Ethel Lynn Beers

“ Mamma, can't I make b'l'eve there's a battle to-day? You know they do fight battles on Sunday." And then the little rogue thought he had a good argument.
Mamma looked up from her book a moment, and a queer smile came to her face as she answered,
"Yes, Frankie, I think you had better fight a battle to-day." ”

“ He is a weak, foolish little leader, and don't care about any thing except his uniform—and he thinks about himself all the while. Then the other one who came to help him was General Bad-Temper. He is big and fierce, and you must not train in his company, for you never can tell where he will l ead you, or what orders he will give. He makes his men talk loud and rough, and swear, and strike. And he makes little boys grumble, and pout, and friz their hair, and—"
"Please don't, mamma," and a little hand was laid on her lips—"Frankie will try." ”

“ There's something under the chin that scratches, and it makes me feel 'hoisty-up' to put my arms in the sleeves; and the buttons ain't bright a bit; and the pants have only got one pocket in, like a little bit of a boy. I wish I could always have two pockets. ”