white plumage; but he cheered up at the sight of the fire and hot
coffee in the snug parlor, and whispered a little entreaty for
forgiveness as I stooped over him to make him comfortable.

"You are tired, Esther," said my mother tenderly, when she saw my
face that morning; "you must not get up so early this cold weather, my
dear." But I held my peace, for who would dress Dot, and what would
become of Jack? And then came a little lump in my throat, for I was
tired and fractious.

When I got to the Cedars a solemn stillness reigned in the nursery,
and instead of an orderly room a perfect chaos of doll revelry
prevailed. All the chairs were turned into extempore beds, and the
twelve dolls, with bandaged heads and arms, were tucked up with the
greatest care.

Flurry met me with an air of great importance and her finger on her
lip.

"Hush, Esther, you must not make a noise. I am Florence Nightingale,
and these are all the poor sick and wounded soldiers; look at this
one, this is Corporal Trim, and he has had his two legs shot off."

I recognized Corporal Trim under his bandages; he was the very doll
Flossy had so grievously maltreated and had robbed of an eye; the
waxen tip of his nose was gone, and a great deal of his flaxen wig
besides--quite a caricature of a mutilated veteran.

I called Flurry to account a little sternly, and insisted on her
restoring order to the room. Flurry pouted and sulked; her heart was