y such a proceeding. The cheers, therefore, were given
with tremendous enthusiasm.

"Tom, I'm glad to see you!" said old Hapgood, with extended hand, while
his eyes filled with tears. "I was afeared we should never see you again."

The fugitive shook hands with every member of the company who was present.
His reception was in the highest degree gratifying to him, and he was
determined always to merit the good will of his companions in arms.

"Now, fellows, tell us what the news is," said Tom, as he seated himself
on a camp stool before the tent of his mess.

"There are letters for you, Tom, in the hands of the orderly," added one
of his friends. "I suppose you have got a bigger story to tell than any of
us, but you shall have a chance to read your letters first."

These precious missives from the loved ones at home were given to him, and
the soldier boy opened them with fear and trembling, lest he should find
in them some bad news; but his mother and all the family were well. One of
them was written since the battle, and it was evidently penned with deep
solicitude for his fate, of which nothing had been heard.

Hapgood, who sat by him while he read his letters, assured him that his
mother must know, by this time, that he was not killed, for all the men
had written to their friends since the battle. The captain who had escaped
from Sudley church had reported him alive and well, but he had no
information in regard to his escape.

"We are all well, and every thing goes on about the same as usual in
Pinchbrook," wrote one of his older sisters. "John is so bent upon going
to sea in the navy, that it is as much as mother can do to keep him at
home. He says the country wants him, and he wants to go; and what's more,
he must go. We haven't heard a word from father since he left home; but
Captain Barney read in the paper that his vessel had been sunk in the
harbor of Norfolk to block up the channel. We can only hope that he is
safe, and pray that God will have him in his holy keeping.

"Squire Pemberton was dreadful mad because his son went into the army. He
don't say a word about politics now."

In a letter from John, he learned that Captain Barney had advanced the
money to pay the interest on the note, and that Squire Pemberton had not
said a word about foreclosing the mortgage. His brother added that he was
determined to go into the navy, even if he had to run away. He could get
good wages, and he thought it was a pi