to him: 'Ah! my Captain always helps me. Mr. Upton says when I do wicked
things and get beaten by the enemy, I must call out to my Captain, and He
will come at once and help me.'

'I reckon I've heard tell of your Captain, then, for that fellow Saxby is
always dinning it into me; but I can't come to religion nohow--I can't
make head or tail of it. I tell you, youngster, I've been having an awful
time lately, and I can't keep to it. I'm certain sure the drink will do
for me again. I can't keep away from it much longer, and this march'll
see the end of my teetotal ways, I'm thinking.'

'And won't my Captain help you?'

'I'm not a hand at prayers and psalm-singing.'

'I wish you'd talk to Mr. Upton; he made me enlist a short time ago, and
I've been ever so much happier since I did it.'

They were walking across the field leading to the farm, and as they came
to the stile the soldier leant heavily on it. Turning his face full on
the child, he said determinedly, 'I'm not a-goin' to talk to any Mr.
Upton or no one about it. I'd as lief hear you as a parson. You mind me
of a little brother of mine that died ten years ago. "Tim," he said,
just afore he went, "Tim, will you meet me in heaven?" He was the only
one I ever loved, and I've lived a dog's life since!'

His eyes were moist with feeling, and for a minute Teddy looked at him
silently in pitying wonder. Then he said, 'Look here, Bouncer, this is
what Mr. Upton said to me. He told me Jesus had died for me, and how
dared I keep from being His soldier when He loved me so? You know that,