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Molly—Frontispiece.

Molly.

Molly was an odd name for a boy, you willsay, especially for a soldier boy, and abrave one at that. But before you can understand,you will have to read my story. Whenyou have finished I feel quite sure that you willdo what I did after reading the bit of old history;give a hearty thought of thanks to the bravedrummer, who, during the war of the Revolution,passed like a gleam of brightness, fun—and alas!sadness through the scenes of war and bloodshed;winning the friendship of all, the esteem andconsideration of General Washington himself, andlastly a page or so in history. From the past Ilead you forth, oh! hero of long ago, and presentyou to the hero and heroine lovers of to-day, feelingsure that a warm welcome awaits you.

Before there was a Molly, there was a DebbyMason, and with her we must deal first.

One July morning, over a hundred years ago therestood in a forlorn room of a log house in Plymouth, a tall,severe looking woman in rich apparel, and a ragged desperatechild of fourteen. On the floor in a drunken stupor, lay a man.

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