The Soldier Boy; or, Tom Somers in the Army

pan

Table of

ies of home. That day, for the first time, he was to partake of soldiers' fare, and that night, for the first time, he was to sleep upon a soldier's bed. These thoughts did not make him repine, for before he signed the muster roll, he had carefully considered, with the b

it went a great way towards making it all right-a very comforting and satisfactory philosophy, which reduced the thermometer from ninety down to seventy degrees on a hot day in summer, and raised it from ten to forty degrees on a cold day in winter; which filled his stomach when it was

im, cutting short the consoling m

who had addressed him. He did not discover any person who appeared to be the owner of the voice, and was leaving the p

m, among the groups of soldiers who were gathered on vario

ice, which sounded more fam

behind a heap of barrels and boxes, and concealed by a sail-cloth which had been throw

here, Fred?" exclaimed Tom, laughing at the l

m. Sit down here where I ca

e you do

l keep quiet a moment

comp

enson's, o

N

nt to

ejacula

kguarding now. You and I

you, Fred-that is, if

o join th

father

; but that needn't

ur cause, Fred. We don't wa

I want to go wi

l, I reckon that's a

right o

h of allegiance, and swear to su

lead; but I have got enough of it. Do you think

ps he

You needn't say I

will your

care what

eedn't, and going aft, he found the ca

nd before his time is out, we will make him an abolition

about it. Fred ran away, and fol

captain. "It will be better for him to be with us than to be at home. If it was the son of any other man in Pinchb

tonished members of the Pinchbrook company. When he announced his intention to go to the war, and, with a pardonable flourish, his desire to serve his country

han Tom Somers. No questions were asked in regard to his age

regiment, to which they were attached, came down and escorted them to the parade ground within the fort. It was a desolate and glo

npleasant impression, and his joke was as loud and hearty as that of any of his companions. The men were divided off into messes, and they had an abun

The colonel, though a very diminutive man in stature, was an enthusiast in military matters, and had the reputation of being one of the most thorough and skilful officers in the state. Tom Somers, who, since he joined the company, had felt ashamed of himself because he was no bigger, became quite reconciled to his low corporeal estate when he found that the colonel of the regiment was

in the details of his new profession, and used his best endeavors to do his duty promptly and faithfully. This was not the case with all the boys in the company from Pinchbro

t had ever rested upon his character was removed, and he and Tom were as good friends as ever they had been. His motive in joining the army, however, could not be applauded. He thought all his friends were going off to the South upon a kind of frolic, spiced with a little of peril and hardship to make it the more exciting, and he

s and parades which were constantly succeeding each other. Among them came many of the people of Pinchbrook, and Tom was delighted by a visi

ize a too familiar face in the crowds which the steamers daily poured into the fort. Fred Pemberton did not wish to see his nearest friends; but after he had

nto the casemate where a group of his companion

e matter n

as just come i

s h

at shal

and we will put you through a

s views in regard to the justice or injustice of c

djoining casemate. "No; nobody else will come," added he, moti

e fugitive from his father's anxious search was directed to get into one of these boxes, from which the sergeant removed the gun rests. He obeyed; h

out of the way, and not another man in the company knew anything about him. The boys were very willing to assist the indignant father in his s

squire, angrily, to the captain

re he is," replie

concealed

ave

as obliged to leave without accomplishing his purpose. As soon as he ha