summers had shone; nay, less than that. His light and joyous heart
seemed bounding with delight, as he witnessed the busy scene that met
his wondering eyes. An aged woman stood near him, whose blanched and
withered cheek but ill accorded with the cheerful look of her
light-hearted thoughtless son. She took his hand, and sobbed out, "Oh,
George, my poor boy, little thought I to see the day when I should be
thus forsaken; I did hope you would now have staid with me, and been a
comfort in my old days."

"Hush, hush! grand-mother, the boys are all looking at you. Come, now,
don't be blubbering so foolishly, I shall soon come back again."

"Come back again, boy! afore that day comes, these poor old bones will
be mouldering in the dust. But God's will be done, and may his
blessings be upon you; I know there must be soldiers, but oh, 'tis
hard, so very hard, to part with one's only child. Oh, after the care
I have taken to bring you up decently, to lose you thus; and how I
worked, day and night, to buy you off before, and yet you listed
again, though a month had not passed over your head. God help me,"
said she sighing, "for even this trial could not be without God's
will, for without that, not a sparrow could fell to the ground. But
stay, do wait a bit longer," said she, catching him by the belt, as he
was manifesting a restless impatience to join the busy throng.

"You will promise to write to me, George, you will not forget that?"

"Yes, yes, to be sure, mother, I'll write."

The sergeant now began to call the muster roll, and the poor old
creature's cheek grew whiter still as the lad exclaimed: