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[Illustration: FRANK SAVING THE BOAT]
1892.
Contents.
In the Navy.
"Well, Frank, did you bring home the evening's paper?" inquired Mrs.
Nelson, as her son entered the room where she was sitting.
"Yes, ma'am. Here it is!" answered Frank, producing it. "But there isno news in it. The Army of the Potomac has not moved yet. I don't seewhat makes them wait so long. Why don't McClellan go to work and thrashthe rebels?"
"You must remember that the rebels have about as many men as we have,"answered his mother. "Perhaps, if McClellan should undertake to 'thrash'the rebels, as you say, he would get whipped himself"
"That makes no difference," answered Frank. "If I was in his place, andthe rebels should whip me, it wouldn't do any good, for I'd renew thebattle every day, as long as I had a man left."
It was toward the close of the first year of the war, during the "masterlyinactivity" of the Army of the Potomac. For almost eight months McClellanhad been lying idle in his encampment, holding in check that splendidarmy, which, with one blow, could have crushed out the rebellion, andallowing the rebels ample time to encircle their capital withfortifications, before which the blood of loyal men was to be poured outlike water. The people of the North were growing impatient; and "On toRichmond!" was the cry from every part of the land.
From the time Fort Sumter had fallen, Frank had been deeply interested inwhat as going on. The insults which had been heaped upon the flag underwhich his g