The Soldier Boy; or, Tom Somers in the Army

g the

Table of

other did not call him till eight o'clock, and it was nine before he reached the store of his employer, where the reci

wenty persons ready to put down their names. A recruiting office was opened at the store, and every day added to the list of brave and self-denying men who were ready to

consent, that he should go to the war. At the first opportunity, therefore, he wrote hi

ou, Tom?" aske

enth year," replie

not old

Sam Thompson; and you didn't

and heavier

he is, and I think I can do as much

h Squire Pemberton shows that you have pluck enough for anything. I

t at home. He went away before Su

r. What does yo

e is w

ou sur

e something by which she can give

d when Tom went home to dinner, he pres

, as she put on her spectacles, and proceede

of what,

oll, and I belong to Capt

r, and gazing earnestly into the face of the yo

ned the papers; but Captain Benson wants your consent i

posed to the perils of the camp and the march, the skirmish and the battle, was terrible, an

aper, Thomas," said she, whe

hat you said the o

st as I did then. If there is any real need

ers. The President wasn't joking when h

e enough to g

might say, and then there

young, and no

nk it's any great hardship to carry father's heavy fowling-piece from sunrise t

e only

e a man so

gone, John will

," said John, with a sly wink at his brother.

" added Mrs. Somers, trying hard to keep down a tear wh

I don't get but two dollars and a half a week in the store, and I shall have eleven dollars a month in t

replied Mrs. Somers, unable an

ng you can for me. If your father was only

y fighting for my coun

omas handed her, and seated herself at the table. "If you are det

signed the muster roll if you hadn't said you were willing. And if yo

ant to go-

about that: but I won't

lf on the eventful night when she fully believed that Thomas had run away and joined the army, she might have offered more and stronger objections than she now urged. But there was a vein of patriotism in her nature, which sh

She was not a solitary instance of this noble sacrifice, and if both her sons had been men, instead of boys, she would not hav

ectacles. "I've done it, and you have my free consent. You've alwa

mother; and if ever I turn my back

who had been deeply interes

t bull dog you fit with t'other night," added gran

and it, gran'ther?" ad

life to be a soldier, and I know some

n'ther Greene had marched that march so many time

it, Tom," said John: "you ha

son, for if there ever was a Christian in Pi

said gran'ther Greene; "and that's something, I can tell you

d Mrs. Somers. "You will be among you

brothers, and feel that they are fighting for each other, as well as for the country. Then, when

more tea,

never took offence even when the choicest stories

and that the honor of that old flag, which had been insulted by traitors, was committed to his keeping. He was taking up the work where his grandfather had left it.

so full of the great event which was dawning upon him, that he did not even think of the exciting incidents which ha

e he met Captain Barney, who

ed the captain, as he reined in his hors

sir. I

You ought to go out as a brigadier

itten consent

my boy!" said the old sal

ere's only one thin

demanded Captain Barney as

of my scrape at Squire Pem

I didn't want to keelhaul the o

ly I'm afraid the squire will bother my mother w

matter with Jack Barney," re

d if he does he will be a beggar. He owes th

ike a man. I'll call and see your mother once a week, or every day in the week, if

ptain Barney;

hall not foreclose that mortgage, Tom. Don't bother your head about any of tho

he soldier boy, as Captain B

w that he was not only able, but willing, to do all he had promis