The Yankees have cut us off.
They are up the river and down the river--and all around us, I've been nearly the whole night getting here; creeping through the woods--like an old Molly-cotton-tail--with the blue boys everywhere, waiting to get me if I showed my head." "But they didn't, did they ?" said Virgie, laughing at his reference to the wise old rabbit and feeling for the pockets of his shabby coat, "Did you--did you bring me anything ?" At her question the man cried out as if in pain, then reached for her in a wave of yearning tenderness.
"Listen, dear; I--I had a little bundle for you--of--of things to eat." He took her by the arms, and looked into her quaint, wise face, "And I was so glad I had it, darling, for you are thinner than you were." He paused to bite his lip, and continued haltingly, "There was bread in that bundle--and meat--real meat--and sugar--and tea." Virgie released herself and clapped her hands.
"Oh, Daddy, where is it ?" she asked him happily, once more reaching for the pocket.

"'Cause I'm _so_ hungry for somethin' good." "Don't! Don't!" he cried, as he drew his coat away, roughly, fiercely, in the pain of unselfish suffering.

"For Daddy's sake, don't!" "Why, what is it, Daddy," she asked, in her shrillness of a child's alarm, her eyes on the widening stain of red above his waist.

"Is--is it hurtin' you again?
What is it, Daddy-man ?" "Your bundle," he answered, in the flat, dull tone of utter hopelessness.

"I lost it, Virgie.