ther, his brother and sisters, and a score of anxious friends.

"Now don't let the rebels hit you in the backbone, Thomas," said gran'ther
Green, as he shook the hand of the soldier boy.

"No, gran'ther; if I can't fight, I won't run away," replied Tom.

"You've got good blood in your veins, my boy: don't disgrace it. I don't
know as you'll ever see me again, but God bless you, Thomas;" and the old
man turned away to hide the tears which began to course down his wrinkled
cheek.

"Be a good boy, Thomas," added his mother.

"I will, mother."

"And remember what I've been telling you. I'm not half so much afraid of
your being killed by a bullet, as I am of your being ruined by bad men."

"You needn't fear any thing of that kind, mother."

"I shall pray that you may be saved from your friends as well as from your
enemies. We shall see you again before you go off, I hope."

"Yes, mother; we shall not be sent south yet."

"Don't forget to read your Testament, Thomas," said Mrs. Somers.

"I won't, mother," replied the soldier boy, as he again shook hands with
all the members of the family, kissed his mother and his sisters, and
hitching up his knapsack, took his place in the ranks.

His heart seemed to be clear up in his throat. During the tender scene he
had just passed through, he had manfully resisted his inclination to weep,
but he could no longer restrain the tears. Suddenly they came like a flood
bursting the gates that confined it, and he choked and sobbed like a
little girl. He leaned upon his musket, covering his face with his arm.

"It's a hard case," said private Hapgood, who stood next to him in the
ranks.

"I didn't think it would take me down like this," sobbed Tom.

"Don't blubber, Tom. Let's go off game," added Ben Lethbridge, who stood
on the other side of him.

"I can't help it, Ben."

"Yes, you can--dry up! Soldiers don't cry, Tom."

"Yes, they do, my boy," said Hapgood, who was a little old man, nearly ten
years beyond the period of exemption from military duty. "I don't blame
Tom for crying, and, in my opinion, he'll fight all the better for it."

"Perhaps he will, old un; but I don't think much of a soldier that
blubbers like a baby. I hope he won't run away when he sees the rebels
coming," sneered Ben.

"If he does, he'll have a chance to see how thick the heels of your boots
are," answered the old man.

"What do you mean by that, old un?" demanded Ben.

"Attention--company! Sho