ave my free consent. You've always
been a good boy, and I hope you will always be a good soldier."

"I shall always try to do my duty, mother; and if ever I turn my back to a
rebel, I hope you'll disown me."

"Good, Tom!" exclaimed John, who had been deeply interested in the event
of the hour.

"Well, Thomas, I'd rather face two rebels than that bull dog you fit with
t'other night," added gran'ther Greene. "You are as bold as a lion,
Thomas."

"Do you think I can stand it, gran'ther?" added Tom, with a smile.

"Stand it? Well, Thomas, it's a hard life to be a soldier, and I know
something about it. When we marched from--"

"Dinner's ready," interposed Mrs. Somers, for gran'ther Greene had marched
that march so many times that every member of the family knew it by heart.

"There's one good thing about it, Tom," said John: "you have got a
first-rate captain."

"I'm thankful you are going with Captain Benson, for if there ever was a
Christian in Pinchbrook, he is the man," added Mrs. Somers.

"And all the company will be your own friends and neighbors," said
gran'ther Greene; "and that's something, I can tell you. I know something
about this business. When we marched from--"

"Have some more beans, brother?" asked Mrs. Somers. "You will be among
your friends, Thomas, as gran'ther says."

"That's a great thing, I can tell you," added the veteran. "Soldiers
should stick together like brothers, and feel that they are fighting for
each other, as well as for the country. Then, when you're sick, you want
friends. When we marched from Sackett's Harbor, there was a young
feller--"

"Have some more tea, brother?"

"Part of a cup, Nancy," replied the old man, who never took offence even
when the choicest stories of his military experience were nipped in the
bud.

After dinner, Thomas hastened back to the store. That day seemed to him
like an epoch in his existence, as indeed it was. He felt that he belonged
to his country now, 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. He was going forth to fight for
his country, and the thought inspired him with a noble and generous
enthusiasm, before which all the aspirations of his youth vanished.

As he passed the house of Squire Pemberton, he bestowed a pitying
reflection upon the old traitor; but his mind was so full of the great
event which was dawning u