The Soldier Boy; or, Tom Somers in the Army

tic Ch

Table of

preceding winter. When he opened the cellar door, he was considerably relieved to find that no brilliant light saluted his expectan

guished the light he carried. As this was contrary to his usual experience when he went down cellar in the evening after an apple or a mug of cider, it assured

fanatical abolitionists had perpetrated. He saw that the cellar door was broken through. The rotten boards lay upon the steps, and with another malediction upon the mob, he placed the lanter

on somebody, who had been killed in the act of attempting to destroy his property. Seizing his lantern, he retreated to the cellar stairs

death, had completely overcome him. Certainly there was nothing to be afraid of, for a dead man is not half so likely to d

here!" he called up the st

claimed Mrs. Pemb

ow," replie

ather," added Mrs. Pembert

squire. "He fell into the

e who it i

said the squire, who was not quite willing

d, who had just returned from the front window, where he had e

, as she slowly and cautiously walked f

man ever is brave, it is in the presence of his wife and children. "If it is one of the ruffians who came here to destr

bent over the prostrate form of the young marauder. The victim lay upon his

" exclaimed Mrs. Pemberton, as her husba

ky he was killed, or the house would have been in flam

as she knelt upon the cold ground, and felt the

ave served him right," added the squire, who had sud

carry him up stairs

imed the squire, indignantly. "Why, he stoned Fred and me to-day, and st

e him here in this s

him

t will f

ire, for nothing but slavery and the Southern Confederacy could hav

never will get out of my house till he h

placed upon the sofa in the sitting room. Mrs. Pemberton had the reputation of being "an excellent hand

or, father?" asked the good woman. "Some of his b

re. "Do you think I will trust myself out doors w

go," sugge

his arm chair in the corner, with an appearance of indifference and un

the satisfaction of seeing him open his eyes. They continued the treatment for some time longer, with the most satisfactory result, till Tom astonish

n, with more of tenderness in her tones tha

feels a little stiff, and I think I barked one of m

scovered, but which Susan pointed out to him. He acknowledged the bump, but

continued Tom, "and I

young man," interpos

sion that he had got into a bad scrape. He was in the house of, and in the presence of, his great enemy. The events of the day passed in rapid succession through hi

. Tom's wits were a little confused, after the hard knock he had received upon the head, and all

s that were intended to make a deep impression upo

the startling announcement; but Tom seemed to be perfectly cool, and was

night marauder," added

d Tom pointing to the great woode

nd destroy the property of a p

door broke in," int

to set it afire!" continu

of the house; "and the cellar door broke down and let me in. I did not mean to do you or your ho

oung villain! You mea

going off when the door broke down. The boards were rotten, and I should

ming in a young man in his situation. The absence of it made him more angry than before. He stormed and hurled denunciations at the offender; he rehearsed the mischief he had done during the day, and allud

ses by such expedients as his fellow-citizens might suggest. Of course this remark only increased the squire's wrath, and he proceeded to pronounce sentence upon the unlucky youth,

ght result from detaining the boy. But the squire declared he should not go till he had at least horsewhipp

uish both the squire and his son; so, with an earnest protest, he permitted himself to be led to the attic chamber. The squire thrust h