Introduction : "The great importance of little things" -- Chats with readers "Round the evening lamp" : Creating a literary community -- Patriotism and perseverance : Oliver Optic's Civil War -- Playgrounds into paradegrounds : Civil War children at play -- The roll call of the brave : loss and sacrifice -- "Some day I shall be with you again" : children and soldiers -- Home guards : virtue and the war effort -- Times of wretchedness and brighter days : magazines for southern children -- "Joy for the conquering right" : mourning and celebrating the end of the war -- Epilogue : "This cruel war."