"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