`` Did the rebel man die , too ? '' asked Nan , anxiously . `` Not then . We laid there all day , and at night some of our fellers came to look after the missing ones . They nat ` rally wanted to take me fust , but I knew I could wait , and the rebel had but one chance , maybe , so I made them carry him off right away . He had jest strength enough to hold out his hand to me and say , ` Thanky , comrade ! ' and them was the last words he spoke , for he died an hour after he got to the hospital-tent . '' `` How glad you must have been that you were kind to him ! '' said Demi , who was deeply impressed by this story . `` Wal , I did take comfort thinkin ' of it , as I laid there alone for a number of hours with my head on Major 's neck , and see the moon come up . I 'd like to have buried the poor beast decent , but it war n't possible ; so I cut off a bit of his mane , and I 've kep it ever sence . Want to see it , sissy ? '' `` Oh , yes , please , '' answered Daisy , wiping away her tears to look . Silas took out an old `` wallet '' as he called his pocket-book , and produced from an inner fold a bit of brown paper , in which was a rough lock of white horse-hair . The children looked at it silently , as it lay in the broad palm , and no one found any thing to ridicule in the love Silas bore his good horse Major . `` That is a sweet story , and I like it , though it did make me cry . Thank you very much , Si , '' and Daisy helped him fold and put away his little relic ; while Nan stuffed a handful of pop-corn into his pocket , and the boys loudly expressed their flattering opinions of his story , feeling that there had been two heroes in it . He departed , quite overcome by his honors , and the little conspirators talked the tale over , while they waited for their next victim . It was Mrs. Jo , who came in to measure Nan for some new pinafores she was making for her . They let her get well in , and then pounced upon her , telling her the law , and demanding the story .
Mrs. XXXXX was very much amused at the new trap , and consented at once , for the sound of happy voices had been coming across the hall so pleasantly that she quite longed to join them , and forget her own anxious thoughts of Sister Meg .
Demi Jo Silas Thanky hour hours night pocket-book sissy war