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398 Little Pilgrims. beside the wicket gate, Cl]L-) Lo, two little children stand, 'VjjTSY Each with grave and earnest brow, And a pilgrim’s staff in hand ; 3 Stand to read that promise free, c 'o-| “ Knock and it shall open be.” A3 Well they know beyond that gate A long and toilsome journey lies; Many dangers must be met, Ere they hope to reach the prize: But they pray God’s grace to win, And they knock and enter in. Children, you are pilgrims too, Traveling onward day by day: Some toward the wicket gate, Others on a broader way— All forgetful of the prize Promised to you in the skies. Oh ! while yet your pilgrimage Is but just begun below, Pray that God will guide your feet In the way that they should go, So that, when life’s journey’s done, Gladly shall your prize be won ! Written for Burke’s Weekly. ELLEN HUNTER: A STORY O F THE WAR. DEDICATED TO THE CHILDREN OF THE SOUTH BY ONE WHO HAS BEEN AN EYE-WITNESS TO THEIR SORROWS AND THEIR SUFFERINGS. BY BYRD LYTTLE, OF VIRGINIA. CHAPTER XXL POOR LITTLE BESSIE. EORGE, as soon as lie h Gai ’d it, advised Ellen tr y an d see an officer, and ask him for a guard. She was so fortunate as Jyfp to see one soon after the column commenced passing, and he immc diately sent two men to guard the Mr place. Ellen locked all the doors except the front one, and then sat in George’s room, so as to be near if anything should be wanted. Charlie was seated on the front step, with his arm around his dog’s neck. The soldiers were very much amused at his fears about losing him, and when they heard his name, they worried the child so much that Ellen was obliged to make him come in the house. Poor little Bessie still continued very ill, and George advised Ellen to try, if possible, to get a physician to come and see her. While they were talking about it there was a knock at the door, and El len went out to see who it was. Before she had time to ask any questions, an offi cer in Yankee uniform stepped up and said: “ Hiss Ellen, I am glad to see you again. How is your brother?” She looked up in astonishment, and found it was Lieutenant Conrad who was BUEKE’9 WEEKLY. speaking to her. At first she thought he must be wearing that uniform as a dis guise, but she soon found that she was mistaken. The man who had spent Christ mas evening with them was a Y ankee spy, and now he had come hack in his true character. She felt so disgusted at seeing’ him that at first she could not ppeak, but remembering how much was at stake, she said, very quietly, “My brother is better.” “ I am glad to hear it,” said Lieut. Con rad. “If you have no objections, I will step in and see him,” and then added, “Y r ouneed have no further fears about your property here being molested. My company has been put on guard duty, and I shall make this my headquarters.” Ellen opened the door of George’s room, and said, in a low tone : “ George, the man who was here Christ mas night was a Yankee; he is coming in to see you.” George looked up and saw Lieut. Con rad before him. His first impulse was to order him from the room, hut, as Ellen had done, he remembered their helpless condition, and restrained himself. Lieut. Conrad, or rather Capt. Craven, which was his real name, behaved in a very gentlemanly manner, and was the means of the property at the “ Home ” being undisturbed; that is, that immedi ately around the house, for the farm had been laid wmste in the early part of the day. While George and Captain Craven were sitting talking together, Ellen came into the room and said : “ George, I wish you would get permis sion for us to send for a Doctor; I am afraid Bessie is very ill.” “What’s that?” said Capt. Craven. “I said my sister is very ill,” said El len, “and I wish to know if we can send for a physician ?” “I don’t think you could got one to come through the army, Miss Ellen ; hut I can send for one of our army surgeons, if you wish it.” Ellen looked at George to see what he thought about it. They both remained silent for several moments, it was so very repugnant to their feelings to he obliged to ask a favor of an enemy of their coun try, hut their anxiety about Bessie was so great that they thought it best to ac cept Capt. Craven’s offer. He sent off one of his men with a note, and in a few moments he returned with a surgeon, who was introduced as “Dr. Foster.” Ellen took him up to see Bessie, hut as soon as the child saw him she be came so excited that he thought it best not to go near her. After a while, ho said: “ She looks as if she has had some .yeat nervous shock ; is that the case?” “Yes,” said Ellen; “our house was searched last night by a party of drunk en soldiers, and she was so terrified at seeing them that it threw her into this state, in which she has been ever since.” “Good heavens! can tiffs be really true?” said Dr. Foster. “By whose or ders did they come ?” “ ‘Verbal orders,’ they said,” answered Ellen ; “ none at all, I think.” “ I regret very much, Miss Hunter, that this should have occurred,” said Dr. Fos ter. “I wish that I could do for your little sister. Perhaps if you tell her I am a Doctor, and not one of those ruffians who were here last night, she will let me speak to her.” Ellen took Bessie on her lap, and after talking to her sometime, she allowed the Doctor to feel her pulse. He looked very grave after he had done so, and left the room. Ellen followed him as soon as she could, and he said, on seeing her: “I am afraid your little sister is very ill. I will do all I can for her, but it is almost too late. I will leave you some medicine, and if she should become worse in the night, you can send for me. Capt. Craven knows where my camp is, and will send one of his men for me if it should be necessary.” Ellen thanked him for his kindness, which she appreciated all the more com ing from one whom she had every cause to look upon with distrust and fear. She then went up stairs to Bessie. She had her moved to her own little room, so as not to disturb her mocher, and took entire charge of her. About sundown the child sank into a restless sleep ; though she was moaning constant ly, Ellen hoped it was a favorable sign— anything was bettor than her incessant cries of agony. Happy is the man that findeth wisdom, and the man that getteth under standing ; for the merchandise of it is better than the merchandise of silver, and the gain thereof than fine gold, She is more precious than rubies; and all the things thou eanst desire arc not to be compared unto her. Length of days is in her right hand ; and in her left hand riches and honor. Hep ways are vu\s of pleasantness, and all her paths au peace. —— mr The mill cannot grind with the water that is past. ♦♦♦— _ sweetest flower.