Daisy In The Field

"You are not speaking to Mrs. Randolph," I said, half under my

breath.

He looked up eagerly in my face. "You do not think as she

does!" he said. "You do not believe in fighting, under any

circumstances?"

"Yes, I do, Mr. Marshall," I said; and I felt myself colour.

"I do believe in fighting, when it is to relieve the

oppressed, to deliver those who are trampled upon, or to save

ourselves or others from worse than death."

"Our friends at the South can hardly be said to be in such

extremity," he said, looking rather perplexed; "unless you

believe all that the papers say about Yankee invaders; and I

for one am not ready to do that."

"Nor I," I said; "I know them too well."

"Then who is so bitterly oppressed just now, Miss Randolph?"

"If you do not know of anybody, I would not fight, Mr.

Marshall."

"Really?" said he. "Perhaps I ought to go home and take care

of my twelve hundred people at Vincennes. Is that your

thought?"

"Are they in need of care?" I asked.

" 'Pon my word, I don't know. Perhaps it would be nearer right

to say, take care of myself; for if the war should come the

way of Vicksburg, and Yankee arms have a little success, there

might be the mischief to pay at Vincennes. On reflection, I

don't see how I could take care of myself, either. Then you do

not bid me go?" he asked again.

"You remember our words one day about insignificant lives?"

"Yes!" he cried eagerly; "and I have been longing ever since

to ask you to explain more fully what interested me so much. I

never could get a chance. I assure you, I have felt to the

bottom of my heart what it is to have one's existence really

worth nothing, to anybody. How may it be better? My life has

to do with nothing but insignificant things."

"But you must define insignificance," I said.

"Is it needful?"

"I think so. What makes things insignificant? Not their being

small, - or common?"

"What then, Miss Randolph?"

"Small things, and common things, are often to the last degree

important, you know, Mr. Marshall."

"Yes; but however small and common, I cannot feel that I am

important, in any degree," he said, half laughing.

"We were talking of lives, and things."

"Yes. Excuse me. Well?"

"I think I see the crowns of two hats, down below, which

belong to some people that we know."

"Is it they?" he exclaimed; - "and I wish they were farther

off. Finish what you were going to say, Miss Daisy! Do not

leave me in ignorance now, after bringing me so far."

"I can only tell you what I think," I said.

"And that is precisely what I want to hear," he answered

earnestly.