The Soldier Boy; or, Tom Somers in the Army

mers F

Table of

e place, we will save them any unnecessary trouble, for it is not laid down on any map with which we are familiar. We live in times of war, and probably our young friends have already learned the meaning of "military n

te these proceedings in our humble volume; but we should exceedingly regret thereby to get any of our friends into a scrape by informing the squire that they were active participants in the scenes of that eventful night, or to say a

rendered into still plainer English, means that some of the people are farmers; that wooden pails, mackerel kegs, boots and shoes, are made; that the inhabitants

voted to the farming interest, and was rather sparsely populated, while the principal village, called Pinchbrook Harbor, was mo

thold in the place, a villainous mixture, known to topers under the general appellation of "punch," may have been largely consumed by the Pinchbrookers. Though not a very aged person ourself, we have heard allusions to festive occasions where, metaphorically, the punch was said to "flow in streams." Possibly, from "stream

still, for aught his wife and children knew, master of the schooner Gazelle. To purchase this vessel, he had heavily mortgaged his house and lands in Pinchbrook to Squire Pemberton. But h

to enable him to pay off the obligation at maturity. Captain Somers had a brother who was familiarly known in the family as uncle W

certain mercantile transactions, and uncle Wyman being the bu

Before leaving home he had assured his wife that he should not return without effecting a settlement with Wyman, who had postponed it so many times, tha

nt in the use of all the coercion that might be necessary to enforce obedience to the laws. The threatening aspect of affairs at the South had made Captain Somers more than ever anxious to have his accounts adjusted, as all his eart

ded entirely upon the adjustment with uncle Wyman. The mortgage note which Squire Pemberton held would be due in June, and as the c

llage, and the latter occasionally went a fishing trip with his brothers-in-law. Both of the boys had been brought up to work, and there was need enough now that they should contribute what they could to the support of the family. The youngest child, Jane, w

with Pinchbrook and the Somers family,

ther's account of the "Battle of Pinchbrook," as he facetiously called it; and perhaps he thought Thomas might need his assistanc

f the hero of this volume; but John, without asking o

her," said he, as they passed out at

hear them talk," replied Thomas. "And I could

e house to assure himself they were out of the hearing of their mother.

oke in tones big with myster

s, his interest excited by the

is fun

hat it's a

say a wor

urse I

er, I mean,

ainly

s been talking too l

his forenoon, and Jeff Davis himsel

are going to make

at

u see through a millstone, Tom

know what

e, and then you will know all ab

are you go

the American flag on his house

uppose h

flag ought to be. We'll pull

k," replied Thomas

rook. If we can't cure him, we'll

ught to get into this scrape

y n

s a mortgage on our hou

cause he has a mortgage on my father's house. Besides, that i

of him, as she is

ays timid," sa

self!" exclaimed Thomas, as he discovere

er the worse for the wear. It looks a

as covered with mud, and limped badly from the effects of his fall. The broken shaft and the harness were now plentifully adorned with ropes an

," said John, as he obtained his first

p it," add

iff upper

end to

word about to

ourse

re to recognize the author of his misfortunes, he stopped the

me and my son, and destroy my property. Stay in the

far. Thomas and John came to a halt; and if the squire had been a prudent man, he might

inch of your life, you villain, you!" r

ot," replied T

hat lash on my brother, I'll

form of the young sailor. Better thoughts

he, dropping his whip, and getting into the chaise a

't say a word, T

e me, I suppose h

morning he will think better of it. At any rate, he wi

ly engaged in discussing the affair in which Thomas had been the principal actor. As the boys entered, the hero of the Pinchbrook Battle was s