There were many such lying about the streets, many trees and stumps of those which had been felled, still standing; in fact nearly the whole town was still a wilderness; yet though not a year old, it already contained, beside private dwellings, two taverns and several stores and shops of mechanics, but among them all there were but four shingled houses, and on one the shingles were fastened with pegs. The streets were very wide and straight, crossing at right angles; not all cleared yet, but marked out by blazing the trees of the thick wood in whose midst the town was located. There were many Indians in the vicinity. They had a town not far away, on the north fork of Paint Creek, and here in Chillicothe their wigwams were interspersed among the dwellings of the whites as Nellie noticed with some uneasiness. But her brother reassured her. "There is no danger," he said, "they are perfectly friendly." "Ah, but they are a treacherous race," she sighed with a dubious shake of the head. "Quite a change from Philadelphia, Nell," Clare remarked, joining them with her knitting in her hand. "Yes, but it is many weeks since I left there." "Is it nice in Philadelphia, Aunt Nellie?" asked Bess, the eldest of the children, hanging affectionately about the young girl. "Do tell us what it's like, and about the pretty things in the shop windows." "Another time, Bess," interposed the major. "Run away to your play now, and let older people talk. Nell, you saw Washington more than once?" "Ah yes! many times--and he asked for you, Percy, in the kindest way, speaking in the highest terms of your services to the country." "It is like him," the major exclaimed with emotion. "And this young doctor, Nell," pursued Clare, with a meaning smile, "what is he like?" "Just what he has shown himself to-night," the girl answered, blushing slightly, as she had a trick of doing, the rich blood showing readily through the clear, transparent skin. "A handsome, polished, courteous gentleman, intelligent and well informed above the generality, that is about all one could learn in so short an interview," and Clare laughed low and musically. "But you have had an opportunity to study his character pretty thoroughly." "A thing I never thought of doing," returned Nell, with some annoyance; "but I can tell you that he is very patient and very kind." "Any one might well be that to you, Nell," remarked her brother, regarding her with a proud, affectionate smile. "But it was not only to me, but to everybody, and to the very horses and dogs. He seems to be always thinking of others, never of himself, and to have a kind look or word or smile for the humblest and meanest creature that crosses his path, and," low and hesitatingly, "I believe it's because he is a real, true Christian." "I know it, one can read it in his face," said the major heartily, "and I am rejoiced; for such men are needed here."