' Ah,
though our hearts ache for the dear land of our birth, we still have many
many blessings left."
"We have indeed."
Mr. Travilla, Rose, and Horace now joined them, and the last-named
besieged his father with questions about the war and its causes; all of
which were patiently answered to the best of Mr. Dinsmore's ability, Mr.
Travilla now and then being appealed to for further information, or his
opinion, while the ladies listened and occasionally put in a remark or a
query.
From that day the mails from America were looked for with redoubled
anxiety and eagerness: though the war news was always painful, whichever
side had gained a victory or suffered defeat.
At first, papers and letters had been received from both North and South,
giving them the advantage of hearing the report from each side; but soon
the blockade shut off nearly all intercourse with the South, a mail from
thence reaching them only occasionally, by means of some Confederate or
foreign craft eluding the vigilance of the besieging squadron.
Early in June there came a letter from Miss Stanhope, addressed to Elsie.
Like all received from America now, it dwelt almost exclusively upon
matters connected with the fearful struggle just fairly begun between the
sections.
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