The Soldier Boy; or, Tom Somers in the Army

le of Pi

Table of

d Thomas Somers, as he rushed into the room w

for traitors had fired upon the flag of the United States. Men, women, and children were roused by the indignity offered to the national emblem. The cannon balls that struck the walls of Sumter see

he indignant young patriot again, as his

rs. Somers, as she closed the B

ammered away at the fort for two da

ong," replied the old lady, shaking

s, and I tell you there'll be music before long!" continued t

sked a feeble old gentleman, e

of his lungs, for the aged man was quite deaf; "and the President has

halting, and gazing with earne

fact, gr

; "but I wa'n't older'n you are when I shouldered my

ent to the war?" asked Thomas, with more

ed the patriarch, dropping slowly and cautiously into the ol

ixteen, and

of the kind," interposed Mrs. Somers. "There's men en

r, Thomas. You ain't so big as I was, when I w

seated himself in a corner of the room, and began

John Somers, rushing into the house a

about it, John,"

in my opinion the rebels will get an awful licking before the

speak of nothing, but Fort Sumter, and the terrible castigation which the rebels would receive from the insulted and outraged North. They were loyal even to enthusiasm; and when

h and strong enough to be soldiers. Their mother, however, had promptly disapproved of s

ccupations, and talked of the affairs of the nation. Every person who could procure a flag hung it out at his window, or hoisted it in his yard, or on

topic of the day. His blood was boiling with indignation against those who had trailed our hallowed flag in the dust. He wanted to do something to redeem the honor of his country-

hink now, Fred

always did-the North is wrong, and

's the question," said Thomas, hi

hey give up t

ates cave in before the little State o

exing the South till the Southerns can't

will! By graci

he South

ton?" demanded Tom, so excit

it. If we had let their niggers alone,

this isn't a quarrel between the North and the S

alone, there wouldn't have been any fuss. I hope

a traitor to

I'm

had my way, I'd ride you

ou wou

you were a decent fellow; but yo

ay, Tom Somers!" retorted the

is country ain't fit to live. Y

, Tom Somers," replied Fr

ou are a

that,

for there is no knowing what might have been the consequence if it had remained longer pent up in his soul. Of course, he struck back; and a contest, on a small scale, between the loyalty of the North and the treason of the So

legs and body of the representative of the Union side. This was more than Tom Somers could stand, a

g scoundrel?" demanded the

d that it was Squire Pemberton,

e first,"

Fred. "I won't be called a trait

calling my son a tr

He is a traitor. He said he

hope so too," add

t this ought to settle the questio

oo. That's all I've got to

ord to me!" roared the squire, as he move

dent to fall back; but as he did so, he

traitor, and I say

added Fred, as he picked up

idently having no sympathy with either party in this miniature contest, and without considering how much damage he might do the rebel cause, started

the issue of the contest, and both started at the top of their speed in pursuit. But they might a

t. He watched the course of the spirited animal, as he dashed madly on to destruction. The career of the horse was short; for in the act of turning a corner, half a mile fro

when he saw the catastrophe in the distance. "Well, it served you right, old Secesh; and I'll

d on his way home. At dinner, he gave the f

right, Thomas,"

t me f

ed him a

tor, and so i

ull of fight as an egg is of

ast of it yet, Thomas,"

I'll stand by y

o boys walked down t