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Elsie's Womanhood by Martha Finley

M >> Martha Finley >> Elsie\'s Womanhood




But Harry promised to bring her back; and she was to be immediately
summoned, in case of any marked unfavorable change in the invalid.

Then, too, Harold was so serenely happy in the prospect before him, and
talked so constantly of it as only going home a little while before the
rest, and of how at length all would be reunited in that better land, to
spend together an eternity of bliss, that it had robbed death of half its
gloom and terror.

It was Harold's earnest desire that all his dear ones should be as gay and
happy as though he were in health; he would not willingly cast a shadow
over the pathway of any of them, for a day; especially the newly married,
whose honeymoon, he said, ought to be a very bright spot for them to look
back upon in all after years.

So Lottie felt it right to let her heart swell with gladness in the new
love that crowned her life; and the time passed cheerfully and pleasantly
to the guests at Elmgrove.

Mrs. Ross and her mother, and Miss Stanhope, remained for a fortnight
after the wedding. All were made to feel themselves quite at home in both
houses; the two families were much like one, and usually spent their
evenings together, in delightful social intercourse; Harold in their midst
on his couch, or reclining in an easy chair, an interested listener to the
talk and occasionally joining in it.

One evening when they were thus gathered about him, Mrs. Carrington,
looking compassionately upon the pale, patient face, remarked, "You suffer
a great deal, Captain Allison?"

"Yes, a good deal," he answered cheerfully, "but not more than I can
easily endure, remembering that it is 'whom the Lord loveth He
chasteneth.'"

"You take a very Christian view of it; but do your sufferings arouse no
bitterness of feeling towards the South?"

"Oh, no!" he answered, earnestly, "why should they? The people of the
South were not responsible for what was done at Andersonville; perhaps the
Confederate government was so only in a measure; and Wirtz was a
foreigner. Besides, there was a great deal endured by rebel prisoners in
some of our Northern prisons. Father," turning to the elder Mr. Allison,
"please tell Mrs. Carrington about your visit to Elmira."

The others had been chatting among themselves, but all paused to listen as
Mr. Allison began his narrative.

"We learned that a young relative of my wife was confined there, and ill.
I went at once to see what could be done for him, and finding the prison
in charge of a gentleman who was under much obligation to me, gained
admittance without much difficulty. It was a wretched place, and the
prisoners were but poorly fed; which was far more inexcusable here than at
the South, where food was scarce in their own army and among the people."

"I know that to have been the case," said Mrs. Carrington. "The farmers
were not allowed to make use of their grain for their own families, till a
certain proportion had been taken for the army; and there were families
among us who did not taste meat for a year."

"Yes; the war has been hard for us, but far harder upon them. I found our
young friend in a very weak state. I succeeded in getting permission to
remove him to more comfortable quarters, and did so; but he lived scarcely
two days after."

"How very sad," remarked Elsie, with emotion. "Oh, what a terrible thing
is war!"

"Especially civil war," said the elder Mrs. Allison; "strife among
brethren; its fruits are bitter, heart-rending."

"And being all one people there was equal bravery, talent, and
determination on both sides; which made the struggle a very desperate
one," said Harold.

"And the military tic-tacs were the same," added Aunt Wealthy; "and then
speaking the same language, and looking so much alike, foes were
sometimes mistaken for friends, and versa-vice."

"A brother-in-law of Louise's was confined in Fort Delaware for some
months," said Adelaide, addressing her brother, "and wrote to me for some
articles of clothing he needed badly, adding, 'If you could send me
something to eat, it would be most thankfully received.' I sent twice, but
neither package ever reached him."

"Too bad! too bad!" said Mr. Dinsmore; "yet very likely it was through no
fault of the government."

"No; I am satisfied that individuals--selfish, unscrupulous men of whom
there were far too many on both sides, were the real culprits, and that
the government intended every prisoner should be made as comfortable as
circumstances would permit," said Mr. Allison. "But there are men who made
large fortunes by swindling the government and robbing our brave soldiers;
men unworthy of the name! who would sell their own souls for gold!"

"You are right, sir!" said Mr. Travilla; "one who could take advantage of
the necessities of his own country, to enrich himself by robbing her, is
not worthy to be called a man."

"And I esteem an officer who could rob the soldiers very little better,"
said Daisy. "Again and again canned fruits and other niceties, sent by
ladies for the comfort of the sick and wounded men, were appropriated by
officers who did not need them, and knew they were not given to them."

"And the conclusion of the whole matter," said Harold, with his placid,
patient smile, "is that there were on both sides men who, loving and
seeking their own interest above country, personal honor, or anything
else, would bring disgrace upon any cause. No, Mrs. Carrington, I have no
bitter feeling towards the South. My heart aches for her people in their
bereavements, their losses, and all the difficulties of reconstruction and
adapting themselves to the new order of things which is the result of the
war."

Elsie had several times expressed to her husband and father a deep anxiety
to hear from Viamede, and had written to both Mr. Mason and Spriggs,
inquiring about the people and the condition of the estate, yet with but
slight hope of reply, as all communication with the place had been cut off
for years, and it was more than likely that one or both had been driven,
or drifted away from his post during the progress of the war.

She was therefore greatly pleased when, on entering the parlor one morning
on her return from a drive, she found Mr. Mason there waiting for an
interview.

"You are not direct from Viamede!" she asked, when they had exchanged a
cordial greeting.

"No, Mrs. Travilla," he answered; "I stayed as long as I could, but not
being willing to go into the army, was finally compelled to leave. That
was more than two years ago. But I received a letter from Spriggs only
yesterday, written from the estate. He was in the Confederate service; and
when the struggle was over, went back to Viamede.

"He says it was not visited by either army, and has suffered only from
neglect. The old house-servants are still there--Aunt Phillis, Aunt Sally,
and the rest; many of the field hands, too, occupying their old quarters,
but looking ragged and forlorn enough.

"They are willing to work for wages, and Spriggs begs of me to find out
where you are, and tell you that, if you wish it and will furnish the
means, he will hire them, and do the best he can to restore the place and
make it profitable to you.

"I saw your name in the list of arrivals by a late steamer, and with some
little painstaking, at length learned where you were."

"I am very glad you have come, Mr. Mason; and I am inclined to think well
of Mr. Spriggs' proposition," Elsie answered; "but I must consult my--Ah,
here they are!" as the husband and father entered the room together.

The matter was under discussion for the next half-hour, when it was
decided to accept Mr. Spriggs' proposal, for the present at least.

Elsie then said to Mr. Mason that she hoped he was not engaged, as she
would be glad to have him return to Viamede and resume his former duties
there.

He colored and laughed, as he answered, "I am engaged, Mrs. Travilla,
though not in the sense you mean, and shall be glad to comply with your
wish, if you do not object to my taking a wife with me."

"Not at all," she answered, smiling; "the Bible says, 'it is not good for
man to be alone,' and I hope you will be all the happier and more useful
in the Master's service for having a better-half with you. A suite of
rooms shall be placed at your service and your wants attended to as
formerly."

Mr. Mason returned warm thanks for her kindness, and took his departure,
evidently well-pleased with the result of his call.




CHAPTER THIRTIETH.

"War, war, war!
Misery, murder, and crime;
Crime, murder, and woe."


The Travillas accompanied Miss Stanhope on her return to Lansdale, and
were there to assist at the reception of Harry and his bride. After that,
a few weeks were spent by them with Mr. and Mrs. Ross.

They then returned to Elmgrove, where, detained, partly by business
matters, partly by Harold's condition and his earnest wish to have them
all near him to the last, they lingered until September.

Harold "went home," early in that month, dying as calmly and quietly as
"fades a summer cloud away," or "sinks the gale when storms are o'er."

He was buried with military honors, and the friends returned to the house,
sorely to miss, indeed, the wasted form, and wan, yet patient, cheerful
face, and the loved voice, ever ready with words of consolation and hope;
but while weeping over their own present bereavement, rejoicing in his joy
and the assurance of a blessed reunion in a better land, when they, too,
should be able to say, "I have fought a good fight, I have finished my
course: I have kept the faith."

It was a melancholy satisfaction to Rose that she had been with him almost
constantly during the last three months of his life; her husband had not
hurried her; but now both they, and Mr. Travilla and Elsie, felt that the
time had come when they should hasten their return to their own homes.

They set out the next week; not a gay party, but filled with a subdued,
quiet cheerfulness. Some of their dear ones, but lately journeying with
them towards the Celestial City, had reached the gates and entered in; but
they were following after, and would overtake them at length; and, though
the way might be at times rough and stony to their weary feet, the path
compassed by foes both wily and strong, yet there was with them One
mightier than all the hosts of hell, and who had promised never to leave
nor forsake. "In all these things they should be more than conquerors,
through Him that loved them."

After entering Virginia, they saw all along the route the sad ravages of
the war, and their hearts sent up earnest petitions that those waste
places might speedily be restored, and their dear native land never again
be visited with that fearful scourge.

The scenes grew more saddening as they neared their journey's end, and
could recognize, in the ruined houses and plantations, the wrecks of the
former happy homes of friends and neighbors.

They all went directly to the Oaks, where the Travillas were to find a
home until Ion could be made again comfortably habitable. It was late in
the afternoon of a cloudy, showery day that they found themselves actually
rolling quietly along the broad winding drive that led through the grounds
to the noble mansion they had left more than five years before.

Even here there were sad signs of neglect: the grounds had forgotten their
former neat and trim appearance, and the house needed paint and some
slight repairs. But this was all; and they felt it a cause for
thankfulness that things were no worse.

A group of relatives and retainers were gathered in the veranda to greet
them; an aged, white-haired man the central figure, around him three
ladies in deep mourning, a one-armed gentleman, and a crowd of children of
both sexes and all ages, from the babe in arms to the youth of sixteen;
while in the rear could be seen Mrs. Murray's portly figure, and strong,
sensible Scotch face, beaming with pleasure, relieved by a background of
dusky faces, lighted up with joy and expectation.

Mr. Dinsmore alighted first, gave his hand to his wife, and leaving young
Horace to attend to Rosebud, hastened to meet his father.

The old man tottered forward and fell upon his neck, weeping bitterly. "My
son, my boa, my only one now; I have lost all--everything--wife, sons,
home; all swept away, nothing left to my old age but you."

"Yes, that's it always," sneered a sharp voice near at hand; "daughters
count for nothing; grandchildren are equally valuable. Sons, houses, and
lands are the only possessions worth having."

"Enna, how can you!" exclaimed Mrs. Howard.

But neither father nor brother seemed to hear, or heed the unkind,
unfilial remark. The old man was sobbing on his son's shoulder; he
soothing him as tenderly as ever he had soothed wife or daughter.

"My home is yours as long as you choose to make it so, my dear father; and
Roselands shall be restored, and your old age crowned with the love and
reverence of children and children's children."

Hastily recovering himself, the old gentleman released his son, gave an
affectionate greeting to Rose, and catching sight of young Horace, now a
handsome youth of nineteen, embraced him, exclaiming, "Ah, yes, here is
another son for me! one of whom I may well be proud. Rosie, too, grown to
a great girl! Glad to see you, dear." But the first carriage had moved on;
the second had come up and discharged its living freight, and Mr.
Travilla, with Vi in his arms, Elsie leading her eldest daughter and son,
had stepped upon the veranda, followed by Dinah with the babe.

"Dear grandpa," Mrs. Travilla said, in tender, tremulous tones, dropping
her children's hands to put her arms about his neck, as he turned from
Rosebud to her, "my poor, dear grandpa, we will all try to comfort you,
and make your old age bright and happy. See, here are your
great-grandchildren ready to rise up and call you blessed."

"God bless you, child!" he said, in quivering tones, embracing her with
more affection than ever before. "And this," laying his hand on wee
Elsie's head, "is yourself as you were at the same age."

"I'm very sorry for you, dear old grandpa; mamma has told me all about
it," the little girl softly whispered, putting her small arms about his
neck as he stooped to give her a kiss.

"Me too," Eddie put in, offering his hand and lips.

"That's right; good boy; good children. How are you, Travilla? You've come
back to find ruin and desolation where you left beauty and prosperity;"
and the aged voice shook with emotion.

Mr. Travilla had a kindly, hearty hand-shake, and gentle sympathizing
words for him, then presented Vi and Baby Harold.

Meanwhile the greetings were being exchanged by the others. Lora met her
brother, and both Rose and Elsie, with the warm affection of earlier days,
mingled with grief for the losses and sorrows that had befallen since they
parted.

Mr. Howard, too, was cordial in his greeting, but Louise and Enna met them
with coldness and disdain, albeit they were mere pensioners upon Horace's
bounty, self-invited guests in his house.

Louise gave the tips of her fingers to each, in sullen silence, while Enna
drew back from the offered hands, muttering, "A set of Yankees come to spy
out the nakedness of the land; don't give a hand to them, children."

"As you like," Mr. Dinsmore answered indifferently, stepping past her to
speak to Mrs. Murray and the servants; "you know I will do a brother's
part by my widowed sisters all the same."

"For shame, Enna!" said Lora; "you are here in Horace's house, and neither
he nor the others ever took part against us."

"I don't care, it was nearly as bad to stay away and give no help,"
muttered the offender, giving Elsie a look of scorn and aversion.

"Be quiet, will you, Madam Johnson," said her old father; "it would be no
more than right if Horace should turn you out of the house. Elsie," seeing
tears coursing the cheeks of the latter, "don't distress yourself, child;
she's not worth minding."

"That is quite true, little wife," said Mr. Travilla; "and though you have
felt for her sorrows, do not let her unkindness wound you."

Elsie wiped away her tears, but only waiting to speak to Mrs. Murray and
the servants, retired immediately to the privacy of her own apartments,
Mr. Travilla accompanying her with their children and attendants.

Wearied with her journey, and already saddened by the desolations of the
country over which they had passed, this cold, and even insulting
reception from the aunts--over whose bereavements she had wept in tender
sympathy--cut her to the quick.

"Oh, Edward, how can they behave so to papa and mamma in their own house!"
she said, sitting down upon a sofa in her boudoir and laying aside her
hat, while her eyes again overflowed; "dear papa and mamma, who are always
so kind!"

"And you, too, dearest," he said, placing himself by her side and putting
an arm about her. "It is shameful conduct, but do not allow it to trouble
you."

"I will try not to mind it, but let me cry; I shall get over it the
sooner. I never thought to feel so uncomfortable in my father's house. Ah,
if Ion were only ready for us!" she sighed.

"I am glad that your home must be with me for the present, daughter, if
you can only enjoy it," said her father, who, still ever watchful over
her happiness, had followed to soothe and comfort her. "It grieves me that
your feelings should have been so wounded," he added, seating himself on
the other side, and taking her hand in his.

"Thank you, dear papa; it is for you and mamma, even more than myself,
that I feel hurt."

"Then never mind it, dearest. Enna has already coolly told me that she and
Louise have settled themselves in the west wing, with their children and
servants; where they purpose to maintain a separate establishment, having
no desire to associate with any of us; though I, of course, am to supply
their table at my own expense, as well as whatever else is needed," he
added, with a slight laugh of mingled amusement and vexation.

"Considering it a great privilege to be permitted to do so, I presume,"
Mr. Travilla remarked, a little sarcastically.

"Of course; for cool impudence Enna certainly exceeds every other person
of my acquaintance."

"You must let us share the privilege."

"Thanks; but we will talk of that at another time. I know you and Elsie
have dreaded the bad influence of Enna's spoiled children upon yours; and
I, too, have feared it for them, and for Rosebud; but there is to be no
communication between theirs and ours; Louise's one set, and Enna's two,
keeping to their own side of the building and grounds, and ours not
intruding upon them. Enna had it all arranged, and simply made the
announcement to me, probably with little idea of the relief she was
affording."

"It is a great relief," said Elsie. "Aunt Lora's are better trained, and
will not----"

"They do not remain with us; Pinegrove is still habitable, and they are
here only for to-day to welcome us home."

Elsie's face lighted up with pleasure. "And we shall have our own dear
home to ourselves, after all! Ah, how foolish I have been to so borrow
trouble."

"I have shared the folly," her father said, smiling; "but let us be wiser
for the future. They have already retired to their own quarters, and you
will see no more of them for the present. My father remains with us."

Mrs. Howard was deeply mortified by the conduct of her sisters, but tried
to excuse them to those whom they were treating with such rudeness and
ingratitude.

"Louise and Enna are very bitter," she said, talking with Rose and Elsie
in the drawing-room after tea; "but they have suffered much in the loss of
their husbands and our brothers; to say nothing of property. Sherman's
soldiers were very lawless--some of them, I mean; and they were not all
Americans--and inflicted much injury. Enna was very rude and exasperating
to the party who visited Roselands, and was roughly handled in
consequence; robbed of her watch and all her jewelry and money.

"They treated our poor old father with great indignity also; dragged him
down the steps of the veranda, took his watch, rifled his pockets,
plundered the house, then set it on fire and burned it to the ground."

Her listeners wept as she went on to describe more minutely the scenes of
violence at Roselands, Ashlands, Pinegrove, and other plantations and
towns in the vicinity; among them the residences of the pastor and his
venerable elder, whose visits were so comforting to Mrs. Travilla in her
last sickness.

"They were Union men," Lora said, in conclusion, "spending their time and
strength in self-denying efforts for the spiritual good of both whites and
blacks, and had suffered much at the hands of the Confederates; yet were
stripped of everything by Sherman's troops, threatened with instant death,
and finally left to starve, actually being without food for several days."

"Dreadful!" exclaimed Rose. "I could not have believed any of our officers
would allow such things. But war is very cruel, and gives opportunity to
wicked, cruel men, on both sides to indulge their evil propensities and
passions. Thank God, it is over at last; and oh, may He, in His great
goodness and mercy, spare us a renewal, of it."

"I say amen to that!" responded Mrs. Howard earnestly. "My poor Ned! my
brothers! my crippled husband! Oh, I sometimes think my heart will break!"

It was some minutes ere she could speak again, for weeping, and the others
wept with her.

But resuming. "We were visited by both armies," she said, "and one did
about as much mischief as the other; and between them there is but little
left: they did not burn us out at Pinegrove, but stripped us very bare."

"Aunt Lora, dear Aunt Lora!" Elsie sobbed, embracing her with much
tenderness; "we cannot restore the loved ones, but your damages shall be
repaired."

"Ah, it will take a lifetime; we have no means left."

"You shall borrow of me without interest. With the exception of the
failure of income from Viamede, I have lost nothing by the war but the
negroes. My husband's losses are somewhat heavier. But our united income
is still very large; so that I believe I can help you all, and I shall
delight to do it, even should it involve the sale of most of my jewels."

"Dear child, you are very very kind," Lora said, deeply moved; "and it may
be that Edward, proud as he is, will accept some assistance from you."

The next morning Mr. Dinsmore and Rose, Mr. Travilla and Elsie, mounted
their horses directly after breakfast, and set out to view for themselves
the desolations of Roselands and Ion, preparatory to considering what
could be done to restore them to their former beauty.

Roselands lying nearest, received their attention first, but so greatly
were the well-remembered landmarks changed, that on arriving, they could
scarce believe themselves there.

Not one of the noble old trees, that had bordered the avenue and shaded
the lawn, was left standing; many lay prostrate upon the ground, while
others had been used for fuel. Of the house naught remained but a few feet
of stone wall, some charred, blackened beams, and a heap of ashes. The
gardens were a desert, the lawn was changed to a muddy field by the
tramping of many feet, and furrowed with deep ruts where the artillery had
passed and repassed; fences, hedge-rows, shrubbery--all had disappeared;
and the fields, once cultivated with great care, were overgrown with weeds
and nettles.

"We have lost our way! this cannot be the place!" cried Rose, as they
reined in their horses on the precise spot where Arthur and Walter had
taken their farewell look at home.

"Alas, alas, it is no other!" Mr. Travilla replied, in moved tones.

The hearts of Mr. Dinsmore and Elsie were too full for speech, and hot
tears were coursing down the cheeks of the latter.

Mr. Dinsmore pressed forward, and the others followed, slowly picking
their way through the ruins, grief swelling in their hearts at every step.
Determined to know the worst, they made the circuit of the house and of
the whole estate.

"Can it ever be restored?" Elsie asked at length, amid her tears.

"The house may be rebuilt in a few months, and fields and gardens cleared
of weeds, and made to resume something of the old look," Mr. Dinsmore
answered; "but the trees were the growth of years, and this generation
will not see their places filled with their like."

They pursued their way to Ion in almost unbroken silence. Here the fields
presented the same appearance of neglect; lawn and gardens were a wild,
but scarcely a tree had fallen, and though the house had been pillaged,
furniture destroyed, windows broken, and floors torn up, a few rooms were
still habitable; and here they found several of the house-servants, who
hailed their coming with demonstrations of delight.

They had lived on the products of the orchard and grapery, and by
cultivating a small patch of ground and keeping a few fowls.

Elsie assumed an air of cheerfulness, for her husband's sake; rejoiced
that the trees had been spared, that the family burial-place had escaped
desecration, and talked gayly of the pleasure of repairing damages, and
making improvements till Ion should not have a rival for beauty the
country round.

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