Teddy's Button

d and C

rs. John and two other neighbours were in charge of the tea and coffee, and Teddy and Nancy, with one or two other children, as a special favour, were allowed to help to wait on the guests. The tables were decorated with flowers; meat-pies, cold beef and ham sandwic

the 10th Hussars, lay with it in Colchester ten years ago. I am sure you have all enjoyed your tea, but perhaps you do not know who was the instigator of the whole thing. We must thank Mr. Upton for his untiring zeal a

el swung him up on the impromptu platform

kling blue eyes; his cheeks were flushed with excitement, but he bore h

here to-night, and my fighting days are past; his are all in the future, and he looks forward to wear the red coat with the res

n to herself; but her mother's heart swell

. 'I haven't anything to say, unless you'd like me to tell you father's

as the colonel

ring his button, he began in his usual impetuous fashion. The very eagerness for his father's deed to

uched by it, and Mrs. John quiet

for them to be, in their own strength, a match for the devil with all the powers of evil at his back, and how the same Saviour who died for them, would keep them, and lead them on to certain victory, if they would but enlist in His service. Nothing could exceed the attention with

e you again

rrow; we march out at

l come and

ly on the boy's fair curls, he said, 'Go

at once. 'Have you

here by myself before the tea, and it's all right with me. I only wonder I didn't do

his comrades, as if asha

other to him when

e one of God's soldiers without waiting to grow up. And I think I shall be a rec

Now go to sleep; you have

said Teddy sleepily, 'th

rl, in spite of her alleged disdain of soldiers, was delighted to be in their vicinity. Teddy could not get near his friend Bouncer, but he received a friendly nod from him in the distance, and as for Bouncer's face, it was like sunshine itself, a marked contrast to the day

he button-boy! That's what I call him, a

's voice rang out

hether he was on his head or heels from excitement and delight. But he had to pay a penalty for his prominent position.

e most orthodox style, and Teddy was bitterly disappointed when the warn

y would have been in dire disgrace, for lessons were imperfectly learned

umped on Kate Brown's back-the hired girl-when she was carrying two pails of milk to the dairy, and the contents of both pails were spilt and wasted; he shut up a fighting bantam cock and the stable cat into a barn, and left them fighting furious

mused himself at intervals by slipping the others down the backs of the boys seated in front of him. His corner was the most unruly on

nesses. He used to cut their hair off, scrape them well like a horse-radish, and then begin at their toes and gobble them up till he

rd Pl

ered!-and his wrath was not appeased by seeing the cluster of heads

arted to

these fro

The answer was

e he

all the boys, Teddy walked up to the mas

kept you in, and given you extra tasks, but neither has had any effect. No

rect he bore unflinchingly the three or four sharp strok

home. I will dispense with your atte

elf, and rushing away to a secluded corner in a field he flung himself down on the ground and sobbed as if

atter?' he inquired as h

touched him so, that he sat down on a log o

en Teddy looked up, and in a solemn voice asked, 'What does the Q

w. I can't remember the

he's sorry

turn them out

y,

ldiers leave off fighting, an

n He's s

give up fighting, and let the banner drag in the dust, and just let the enemy do what they like with them. Why, I've done worse than that!'-here he clenched his little

looked sor

school? What have

ll in a despairi

e been caned, and-and I'

ears burst

ouble about you this last day or two; but if we gets a fall in the mud it ain't much good stopping there; the only thin

won't have me back. I've disgraced Him, I've d

in', if you ask Him. He'll clean you up f

nce more began to daw

but I do remember this one-"Though your sins be as scarlet

he blue sky, as if unconscious of his uncle's presence, an

and went home to prepare Mrs

, like a sensible woman, too

ed up sharp; my poor

t Jake confessed to knowing nothing about it. Mrs. Pla

s, so full of feeling and nerves

f had almost given him a sound w

and shutting the door behind

an awful boy at school this morning,

orry, and I'm sorry I've been so naughty at home, and I'm

f to wash his face and hands. She saw the red marks across the little hand, but refrained from making much of it; and

els his naughtiness. She has been praying much