The Girl's Own Paper, Vol. XX, No. 990, December 17, 1898

A lively wartime tale opens with thirteen‑year‑old Roy bursting into his family’s drawing‑room, thrilled and nervous about a sudden order to move from Fontainebleau to Verdun. The Barons grapple with the practicalities of the march—carriage, post, or foot—while the young boy imagines himself a prisoner‑in‑training, eager to reunite with a beloved acquaintance in the fortified town. Their conversation reveals a household caught between duty and the yearning to keep home close, especially for Roy’s mother, whose quiet resolve hints at a promise she made months before.

Through witty dialogue and gentle humor, the story captures the tension of military life in a foreign land, the innocence of a teenager confronting adult responsibilities, and the subtle dynamics of a family trying to stay united. Listeners will be drawn into the cozy yet uneasy atmosphere of a winter morning, feeling the anticipation of an adventure that may yet reshape the Barons’ world.