Read Online Yankee Belles in Dixie by Gilbert L. Morris - Free Book Online Page B

this!”
    The guard looked a bit embarrassed. “Yes, I guess it is, Miss Leah. But Mrs. Greenhow, she wouldn’t have it no other way.”
    Leah and her father spoke for a while to the guard, but he knew little else about the woman. Later they found out that the head of the Federal Secret Service, Allen Pinkerton, had captured Mrs. Greenhow personally.
    Leah said little, but when she talked about it later before bed, she said, “You know, I’m going to try to get to see Mrs. Greenhow and especially that little girl. She’s bound to be scared, don’t you think, Pa?”
    â€œI wouldn’t be surprised. That would be a good thing to do.”
    The next day Leah found a doll in one of the shops in Washington. It was not a new doll, but she bought it and wrapped it up in a piece of red paper. When she got to the prison, she asked for permission to see the little girl.
    Lieutenant Simpkins glared at her as usual. “What do you want to see her for? So you can carry messages out to help the Rebels again?”
    Leah was accustomed to his surly manner. “No, Lieutenant. You can search me all you want to. I just feel sorry for her little girl. I brought her a doll.”
    â€œLet me see that!” Simpkins looked at the doll, felt its soft body for messages, then handed it back. “Well, I guess it’ll be all right.
This
time.”
    â€œThank you, Lieutenant.”
    Mrs. Greenhow, she discovered, was on the second floor, and Leah was admitted at once. As soon as she was inside she said, “Mrs. Greenhow, my name is Leah Carter. My father is a sutler, but we visit the prisoners here.”
    â€œAre you a Southern sympathizer?” the woman asked. She was an attractive woman, but there was suspicion in her eyes. “Why would you visit Rebel prisoners?”
    Leah explained that one of the prisoners had been a neighbor back in Kentucky, and then she smiled. “I thought you wouldn’t mind if I would come and visit with your daughter. I brought her a present.”
    â€œA present?” Mrs. Greenhow’s eyes softened. She turned to look at her daughter. “Isn’t that nice, Rose?”
    The child had held back. Now she reached out and took the parcel that Leah offered her. She opened it silently, but when she saw the doll, she cried, “Oh, Mama! It’s just like the one I used to have back home!” She hugged the doll and looked at Leah. “Thank you.”
    â€œI had a doll like that too, when I was your age,” Leah said. “Look—I brought some material too. Maybe we can make some clothes for her.”
    Leah sat down and for the next hour occupied herself with making doll clothes.
    Mrs. Greenhow sat at a table watching. When Leah got up to leave, she put her hand out. “I’m poor in everything except thanks, Leah,” she said. “I appreciate your coming. Will you come back again?”
    â€œOh, yes, my father and I come several times a week. Can I bring you anything, Mrs. Greenhow?”
    Mrs. Greenhow looked at her carefully, then said, “The only thing would be some paper and something to write with.”
    â€œOh, yes, we sell those to the soldiers all the time,” Leah said. “As a matter of fact, I have some left over here.” She rummaged in her bag and brought out a small package of paper, a pen, and a bottle of ink.
    â€œI can’t pay you for these.”
    â€œOh, that’s all right,” Leah said quickly with a smile. “Just think of it as a late Christmas present.” She put her things together, then left.
    When she made her visit to Lieutenant Majors, Leah found that everyone was very interested in the woman.
    â€œI’m surprised that Lieutenant Simpkins let you see her,” Jeff’s father remarked.
    â€œWell, he did search the doll I took to her little girl.” Leah grinned. “I think he was ashamed to. I think they’re all ashamed of keeping