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factories for muskets； ammunition； and percussion caps。 The
South had； in fact； to manufacture everything down to the cloth for
her soldiers uniforms and the leather for their shoes； and； as in the
past she had relied wholly upon the North for such goods； it was
for a time impossible to supply the troops with even the most
necessary articles。
The women throughout the States were set to work； spinning and
weaving rough cloth； and making uniforms from it。 Leather；
however； cannot be produced all at once； and indeed with all their
efforts the Confederate authorities were never throughout the war
able to provide a sufficient supply of boots for the troops； and
many a battle was won by soldiers who fought almost barefooted
and who reshod themselves for the most part by stripping the boots
from their dead foes。 Many other articles could not be produced in
the Southern States； and the Confederates suffered much from the
want of proper medicines and surgical appliances。
For these and many other necessaries they had to depend solely
upon the ships which succeeded in making their way through the
enemy's cruisers and running the blockade of the ports。 Wine； tea；
coffee； and other imported articles soon became luxuries beyond
the means of all； even the very wealthy。 All sorts of substitutes
were used； grain roasted and ground being chiefly used as a
substitute for coffee。 Hitherto the South bad been principally
occupied in raising cotton and tobacco； depending chiefly upon the
North for food； and it was necessary now to abandon the
cultivation of products for which they had no sale； and to devote
the land to the growth of maize and other crops for food。
By the time that the long period of inaction came to a close；
Vincent had completely recovered his strength； and was ready to
rejoin the ranks as soon as the order came from Colonel Stuart；
who had promised to send for him directly there was a prospect of
active service。
One of Vincent's first questions as soon as he became
convalescent was whether a letter had been received from Tony。
It had come； he was told； among the last batch of letters that
crossed the frontier before the outbreak of hostilities； and Mrs。
Wingfleld； had； as be had requested； opened it。 As had been
arranged； it had merely contained Tony's address at a village near
Montreal； for Vincent had warned him to say nothing in the letter；
for there was no saying； in the troubled times which were
approaching when Tony left； into whose hands it might fall。
Vincent had before starting told his mother of the share he had
taken in getting the negro safely away； and Mrs。 Wingfield；
brought up as she had been to regard those who assisted runaway
slaves to escape in the same light as those who assisted to steal any
other kind of property； was at first greatly shocked when she heard
that her son had taken part in such an enterprise； however worthy
of compassion the slave might be； and however brutal the master
from whose hands he had fled。 However； as Vincent was on the
point of starting for the war to meet danger； and possibly death； in
the defense of Virginia； she had said little； and that little was in
reference rather to the imprudence of the course he had taken than
to what she regarded in her own mind as its folly； and indeed its
criminality。
She had； however； promised that as soon as Tony's letter arrived
she would； if it was still possible； forward Dinah and the child to
him； supplying her with money for the journey； and giving her the
papers freeing her from slavery which Vincent had duly signed in
the presence of a justice。 When the letter came； however； it was
already too late。 Fighting was on the point of commencing； all
intercourse across the border was stopped； the trains were all taken
up for the conveyance of troops； and even a man would have had
great difficulty in passing northward； while for an unprotected
negress with a baby such a journey would have been impossible。
Mrs。 Wingfield had therefore written four times at fort…nightly
intervals to Tony； saying that it was impossible to send Dinah off
at present； but that she should be despatched as soon as the
troubles were over； upon receipt of another letter from him saying
that his address was unchanged； or giving a new one。 These letters
were duly posted； and it was probable that one or other of them
would in time reach Tony； as mails were sent off to Europe
whenever an opportunity offered for them to be taken by a steamer
running the blockade from a Southern port。 Dinah； therefore； still
remained at the Orangery。 She was well and happy； for her life
there was a delightful one indeed after her toil and hardship at the
Jackson's； and although she was anxious to join her husband； the
knowledge that he was well and safe from all pursuit； and that
sooner or later she would join him with her child； was sufficient to
make her perfectly contented。
During Vincent's illness she had been his most constant attendant；
for her child now no longer required her care； and passed much of
its time down at the nursery； where the young children of the
slaves were looked after by two or three aged negresses past active
work。 She had therefore begged Mrs。 Wingfield to be allowed to
take her place by the bedside of her young master； and； after giving
her a trial； Mrs。 Wingfleld found her so quiet； gentle； and patient
that she installed her there； and was able to obtain the rest she
needed； with a feeling of confidence that Vincent would be well
attended to in her absence。
When Vincent was well enough to be about again； his sisters were
surprised at the change that had taken place in him since he had
started a few months before for the war。 It was not so much that
he had grown； though he had done so considerably； but that he was
much older in manner and appearance。 He had been doing man's
work： work requiring vigilance； activity； and courage； and they
could no longer treat him as a boy。 As he became stronger he took
to riding about the plantation； but not upon Wildfire； for his horse
was still with the troop； Colonel Stuart having promised to see that
the animal was well cared for； and that no one should ride upon it
but himself。
〃I hope you like Jonas Pearson better than you used to do；
Vincent；〃 Mrs。 Wingfield said a day or two before he started to
rejoin his troop。
〃I can't say I do； mother；〃 he replied shortly。 〃The man is very
civil to me now…too civil； in fact； but I don't like him； and I don't
believe he is honest。 I don't mean that he would cheat you； though
he may do so for anything I know； but he pretends to be a violent
Secessionist； which as he comes from Vermont is not natural； and
I imagine he would sing a different tune if the blue coats ever get
to Richmond。 Still I have nothing particular to say against him；
except that I don't like him and I don't trust him。 So long as
everything goes