THE LIBRARY 
 
 OF 
 
 THE UNIVERSITY 
 OF CALIFORNIA 
 
 Rare Book Room 
 GIFT OF 
 
 John W. Beckman 
 
// 
 
TUK 8KWJKANT DRILLING JULIUS. Page 54. 
 
I WILL BE A SOLDIER 
 
 A BOOK FOR BOYS. 
 
 BY 
 
 MRS. L. C. TUTHILL, 
 
 BOSTON: 
 
 CROSBY AND NICHOLS. 
 NEW YORK: 0. S. FELT. 
 ' 1863. 
 
Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1862, by 
 
 CROSBY AND NICHOLS, 
 in the Clerk's Office of the District Court for the District of Massachusetts. 
 
 UNIVERSITY PRESS: 
 
 WELCH, BIGEI.OW, AND COMPANY, 
 
 CAMBRIDGE. 
 
CONTENTS. 
 
 PAGE 
 
 I. THE ORPHAN COUSIN ...... 1 
 
 II. A BIRTHDAY PARTY . . . 6 
 
 III. A FLOGGING ....... . . 17 
 
 IV. LEARNING TO SWIM . . . . . . 22 
 
 V. MY BEAUTIFUL LAND 27 
 
 VI. SERGEANT MOSES ... . . . .33 
 
 VH. BLACK DUKE . 41 
 
 VIII. TEMPTATION . 47 
 
 IX. MORAL COURAGE . - 68 
 
 X. AN ORTHOGRAPHICAL CURIOSITY .... 63 
 
 XI. WILL HE KEEP HIS PROMISE? . . . . 66 
 
 XII. TOM'S RETURN FROM SCHOOL . ..'*.. . 70 
 
 XIII. THE BLUSTERER AT HOME 76 
 
 XIV. COURAGE! COURAGE! 77 
 
 XV. THE RESCUE 83 
 
 XVI. FORWARD, MARCH! 89 
 
 XVII. BELL-RIXGIXG 94 
 
 XVIII. FORTUNE FA\*ORS THE BRAVE . 104 
 
i v CONTENTS. 
 
 XIX. WEST POINT 110 
 
 XX. THE MORNING AFTER A REVEL . . . - U* 
 
 100 
 
 XXI. "PLEEBS" . . ' 
 
 XXII. DAMON AND PYTHIAS . . . * -'.. 13 
 
 XXIII. GRACEFUL, AND DISGRACEFUL,. . 134 
 
 XXIV. THE GOOD DAUGHTER . ' ' . ] 
 XXV. WHAT DID YOU SAY? . 
 
 XXVI. SERGEANT MOSES, FAREWELL! . . . . 162 
 XXVII. ALLEGIANCE . . - ' 
 XXVIII. No. 1 AND No. 5 . . . m 
 
 1 *7ft 
 
 XXIX. A TRAITOR FOILED . . \- 
 XXX. THE LAST DROP OF BRANDY . . . . 186 
 
 191 
 XXXI. FINIS ... - ..- 
 
I WILL BE A SOLDIER. 
 
 CHAPTER I. 
 
 THE ORPHAN COUSIN. 
 
 "I SAT she did!" 
 
 "I say she did n't!" 
 
 "She did!" 
 
 "She did n't!" 
 
 " Katy did Katy did n't ! What are you disput 
 ing about so fiercely ? You look as ferocious as two 
 bull-dogs." 
 
 Ruth Roland, the last speaker, entered the room 
 just as Thomas Roland and Julius Farley were thus 
 contradicting each other. 
 
 Instead of replying to Ruth, Tom Roland, with his 
 eyes starting from his head, and his face as red as a 
 Bristol apple, lifted his arm to strike Julius. 
 
 " Coward ! " exclaimed Ruth, quick as thought 
 interposing her own fair arm, which received the 
 blow from Tom's big fist. 
 
 1 A 
 
2 I WILL BE A SOLDIER. 
 
 " There now, Ruth, you deserve that for calling 
 me coward, though I only meant to punish Jule for 
 contradicting me," said Tom. 
 
 " Dear Ruth, how sorry I am you took that heavy 
 blow intended for me," said Julius, drawing his hand 
 tenderly over the smooth round arm ; " I am afraid it 
 is broken." 
 
 "Not quite," replied Ruth; "but tell me now 
 what the dispute was about ? " 
 
 " Tom insisted " began Julius. 
 
 " Stop ! let me tell," interrupted Tom. " I was 
 sure you told me I might invite my friend Martin 
 Hackerty to that poor little fool's birthday party to 
 morrow, and I said so, and he said you did not." 
 
 " Julius was right. I said no such thing. I don't 
 like Martin Hackerty at all. He is not a suitable 
 companion for either of you." 
 
 " Why not ? You don't know anything about him, 
 Ruth. It 's only a silly prejudice of yours. Girls 
 always take up just such foolish notions." 
 
 " Brother," replied Ruth, " Martin Hackerty uses 
 profane language, and my dislike of him is no silly 
 notion." 
 
 "Well, I've invited him, and I sha'n't take it 
 back," muttered Tom, pouting his thick lips. 
 
THE ORPHAN COUSIN. 3 
 
 " You must take it back, if Julius wishes it," con 
 tinued Ruth. " Shall Tom tell Martin the invitation 
 was given through a mistake on Tom's part ? " 
 
 " By no means ; it would offend him mortally. 
 He is very severe upon me already. Besides, if 
 it will give Tom pleasure, let Martin come. See 
 how red your arm is, Ruth," continued Julius ; " it 
 will be black and blue to-morrow." 
 
 " Never mind, it was in the cause of truth and 
 the defence of the innocent," said Ruth smiling. 
 That lovely smile! how it added a new charm to 
 her sweet face! 
 
 " I suppose Jule will go and tell father that I 
 struck you. It would be just like him," said that 
 great lubberly boy, Tom Roland. A great lubberly 
 boy he was, in very deed, fond of nothing but eating. 
 Like the sailor's wife in Macbeth, he "mounched, 
 and mounched, and mounched," from morning till 
 night, and even went to sleep with candy between his 
 teeth. Ruth was his sister, just sixteen, and Tom 
 was two years younger. They were the children 
 of Mr. Francis Roland, a civil engineer, and had 
 been motherless since early childhood. 
 
 Ruth had lately returned from school, and was 
 now the lady of the house. Julius Farley was an 
 
4 I WILL BE A SOLDIER. 
 
 orphan, the child of a beloved sister of Mr. Roland, 
 whom the generous engineer had adopted as his own 
 son. He had been about three months in the family 
 of Mr. Roland, and was now just fourteen years old. 
 A shade of melancholy lingered on his handsome 
 features, and his dark gray eyes readily moistened, 
 as though long accustomed to weeping. Yet there 
 was a certain manliness of heart in Julius Farley, 
 which was indicated by his fair large forehead and 
 fine aquiline nose, with its inflated nostrils; the 
 boy was bravely striving against the melancholy 
 which under other circumstances might have become 
 habitual. 
 
A BIRTHDAY PARTY. 
 
 CHAPTER II. 
 
 A BIRTHDAY PARTY. 
 
 THE sixth of June. It was as bright and beauti 
 ful a morning as ever dawned upon a boy's birth 
 day. Julius had obtained permission from his 
 teacher to have a holiday. 
 
 Ruth and Julius were gathering strawberries for 
 the evening party, and arranging flowers for the 
 refreshment table. 
 
 " How sweet it is that roses and strawberries come 
 together ; they seem to be natural allies/' said Julius. 
 "The rose was my mother's favorite flower," he 
 added, with a sigh. 
 
 "It is a general favorite," replied Ruth; "after 
 we have enjoyed other more brilliant flowers for 
 their novelty, we turn fondly to the rose, our first 
 love. I like the lily of the valley almost as well as 
 the rose. Hundreds and thousands of poems have 
 been written on these two flowers, and I suppose 
 thousands more will be written, for they seem the 
 very genii of poetry." 
 
6 I WILL BE A SOLDIER. 
 
 "Now, Ruth, I suspect you write poetry your 
 self, " said Julius inquiringly. 
 
 " I tried occasionally at school, for a composition, 
 but I was so little satisfied with my efforts that I 
 gave up versifying, and contented myself with writ 
 ing plain prose. However, I enjoy genuine poetry." 
 
 " You ought to read Virgil. That 's the poetry I 
 like," exclaimed Juh'us with genuine enthusiasm. 
 Thus in pleasant chat and pleasant occupation the 
 cousins passed the hours till noon. 
 
 Meantime Tom, not having had permission to 
 be absent from school, absented himself without 
 permission, and went strolling beside a brook, digging 
 and eating calamus (flag-root), and the few wild 
 strawberries just beginning to ripen. Sauntering 
 and maundering, he passed a very dull morning, 
 and at last threw himself down under a tree and 
 fell fast asleep. 
 
 At the usual hour for dinner, no Tom appeared. 
 This was surprising; for, of all times in the day, 
 Tom was least likely to be absent at dinner-time. 
 When three o'clock struck, he had not appeared, 
 and Ruth, fearing some accident had happened to 
 her brother, sent a servant to the school, two miles 
 offj to inquire for Master Tom 
 
A BIRTHDAY PARTY. 7 
 
 The message returned was, that Master Tom had 
 played truant. 
 
 A wide and beautiful lawn in front of the spa 
 cious mansion of Mr. Roland reached down with a 
 gentle slope to the noble river Hudson. Large elm- 
 trees on one side of the lawn formed an avenue, 
 with the branches" meeting overhead, like those of 
 the far-famed " City of Elms." Oak, locust, chest 
 nut, and other magnificent shade trees, were scat 
 tered over the lawn, leaving openings through which 
 might be seen the river, with white sails gliding 
 like giant birds upon its sparkling waves, or a 
 huge steamer plodding on, with a still more rapid 
 advance. 
 
 Upon the rural seats about the lawn were balls, 
 battledoors, and small balloons, for the amusement 
 of the dozen boys who were to celebrate the four 
 teenth birthday of Julius Farley. 
 
 They were already gathering on the lawn when 
 Tom made his appearance in the dining-room, clam 
 orous for his dinner. 
 
 U O brother, where have you been! You are a 
 complete fright ! " exclaimed Ruth. 
 
 And sure enough, he was a fright, for the mos 
 quitoes, being as fond of good things as Tom him- 
 
8 I WILL BE A SOLDIER. 
 
 self, had been feasting on his fat face, and left it 
 covered with blotches. 
 
 Tom was miserably out of humor, yet he ate his 
 dinner with his usual ravenous appetite, complain 
 ing bitterly, however, because it was " stone cold." 
 
 ' O'erclouded with a constant frown, 
 He does not swallow, but he gulps it down." 
 
 Meantime the boys were enjoying themselves 
 upon the lawn according to their several fancies. 
 Among them was Martin Hackerty, much wonder 
 ing what had become of his friend Thomas Roland. 
 
 With difficulty had Ruth persuaded Tom to change 
 his soiled dress and join the merry revellers upon 
 the lawn. 
 
 As soon as he appeared among them, looking sulky, 
 and as sour as a crab-apple, the boys shouted, " Hur 
 rah ! here comes the truant ! " 
 
 Martin hurried forward to meet Tom, but instant 
 ly drew back with a look of horror, exclaiming, 
 "You've got the measles, or the small-pox, and I 
 never had either of them." 
 
 "The mosquitoes bit me while I was asleep by 
 the brook," dolorously replied Tom. 
 
 " Yet you preferred their company, this morning, 
 
A BIRTHDAY PARTY. 9 
 
 to our good friends, Cicero, Virgil, and Daboll,"* 
 said Martin Hackerty, with a loud laugh, in which 
 the other boys joined right heartily. 
 
 Tom turned and fled into the house, there to 
 sulk it out by himself, while the boys went on with 
 their sports without caring for his absence. 
 
 When they adjourned from the lawn to the re 
 freshment-table, Tom was on hand, and devoured as 
 much ice-cream and as many strawberries as though 
 he had not .chewed calamus by the brook-side, and 
 lately eaten a hearty dinner ; indeed, no three boys 
 of the company would have been a match for Tom 
 in this his specialty, cramming. 
 
 When the boys left the table, they were shown to 
 the parlor where they were to pass the evening. 
 
 " I am going to ask Cousin Ruth to come in and 
 preside," said Julius. 
 
 " I don't want Ruth ; we can have more fun with- 
 out a girl ; can't we Martin ? " cried Tom. 
 
 " I suppose so. We may want to have some jokes 
 that we would n't have before Ruth Roland," replied 
 Martin, thrusting his tongue into one cheek and giv 
 ing Tom a knowing wink. 
 
 " But it is my party," said Julius decidedly, " and 
 
 * Daboll's Arithmetic was then in use. 
 1* 
 
10 I WILL BE A SOLDIER. 
 
 I shall ask Ruth to join us, if the rest of the boys 
 have no objections. She is a capital hand at games. 
 What do you say, boys ? I '11 put it to vote. All 
 who wish for Miss Ruth 'Roland's company say, 
 Ay." 
 
 There was a loud shout of Ay!" Ay ! " 
 "Those opposed say, No." 
 
 A single " No " from Tom was the response. His 
 friend and ally, Martin, had deserted him. He 
 loved popularity too well not to go with the majority ; 
 besides, he wanted to know what were the games 
 at which Ruth was a " capital hand." So Julius led 
 in Ruth in the most gallant style, and placed her 
 at a large table in the centre of the room. 
 
 The boys bowed and scraped, awkwardly or grace 
 fully according to their ability, proud to have so 
 beautiful a young lady among them ; for, though only 
 ktwo years older than most of them, Ruth seemed a 
 splendid young lady. 
 
 " I am requested by Julius," said Ruth, taking a 
 seat at the head of the table, "I am requested to 
 ask if you would like to play ( Favorites ' ? " 
 
 The game was new to them all, and they asked 
 for explanation. 
 
 " I will write a set of questions, which each of you 
 
A BIRTHDAY PARTY. 11 
 
 will answer on the bit of paper Julius will hand 
 you," said Ruth. She wrote a few moments, and 
 then read out the following questions : 
 
 1st. Who is your favorite hero in history ? 
 
 2d. Who is your favorite heroine in history ? 
 
 3d. What is your favorite study ? 
 
 4th. What is your favorite amusement ? 
 
 5th. What is your favorite instrument of music ? 
 
 6th. What is your favorite piece of poetiy ? 
 
 " Write the answers on the bits of paper, then roll 
 them up and put them in this vase. You are not 
 to let each other know what you write, and the amuse 
 ment will be in guessing the authors. Whenever 
 all of you are of the same opinion with regard to 
 the authorship, that is, when there is a unanimous 
 vote, the author must confess ; otherwise he may 
 keep the secret. I shall write answers to the ques 
 tions myself, and place mine with the rest." 
 
 There was now a great demand for pencils and 
 pens, much whispering among the boys, and then a 
 dead silence for many minutes. 
 
 By degrees the vase received all the answers, and 
 Julius begged Ruth to read them aloud. 
 
 1. Favorite hero in history, Washington. 
 
 2. Favorite heroine, Joan of Arc. 
 
12 I WILL BE A SOLDIER. 
 
 3. Favorite study, Astronomy. 
 
 4. Favorite amusement, Chess. 
 
 5. Favorite instrument of music, Violin. 
 
 6. Favorite piece of poetry, Mrs. Hemans's 
 "Pilgrim Fathers." 
 
 " That 's yours, Ruth," exclaimed Julius. 
 
 " Yes indeed, there 's no doubt of that," responded 
 Martin Hackerty, and all the others chimed in, " Miss 
 Ruth Roland." . 
 
 " Is it a unanimous vote ? " demanded Ruth, color 
 ing rosy-red. 
 
 " It is, it is," shouted every one. 
 
 Ruth had accidentally drawn her own first, and 
 was obliged to confess it. 
 
 Several others were read, and were ascribed to 
 various individuals, and the authors were not obliged 
 to acknowledge their answers. 
 
 Ruth then read the x following : 
 
 1. HERO. 
 Well, for my hero, 
 I choose old Nero. 
 
 " Why that 's a dog, our porter's dog," cried Tom. 
 
 "I suppose the author meant the Roman Emperor 
 Nero ; don't interrupt the reading, Tom," said Ruth, 
 and continued: 
 
A BIRTHDAY PARTY. 13 
 
 2. HEROINE. 
 And for my shero, I choose 
 Dear old Mother Goose, 
 Of whose learned lore 
 I have a mighty store. 
 
 3. STUDY. 
 
 The study is not in my books, 
 How to put worms on my hooks. 
 
 4. AMUSEMENT. 
 To make silly girls giggle, 
 And the sober boys wriggle. 
 
 6. MUSICAL INSTRUMENT. 
 High diddle diddle, 
 A corn-stalk fiddle. 
 
 6. POEM. 
 
 * For a friend's sake I choose a poem, 
 
 His own sweet character to show him. 
 " Little Jack Homer 
 
 Sat in a corner, 
 
 Eating a whole rich Christmas pie; 
 He stuck in his thumb 
 And pulled out a plum, 
 And said, What a big boy am 1 1" 
 
 Provoked at this sheer nonsense, Ruth read it 
 through without a smile ; then there was a burst of 
 laughter from the boys, and a general shout, " Mar 
 tin Hackerty ! Martin Hackerty ! " 
 
14 I WILL BE A SOLDIER. 
 
 " I guess Thomas Roland wrote the miserable dog 
 gerel," said Martin very gravely, " therefore it is not 
 a unanimous vote, and he is not obliged to confess." 
 
 " You wrote it yourself, Martin, and you meant to 
 make fun of me, you know you did ! " angrily ex 
 claimed Tom. . 
 
 " Will Miss Ruth please to read on ? " calmly de 
 manded Martin. 
 
 Several others were not guessed, and then she 
 came to the last. 
 
 1. Favorite hero, David. 
 
 2. Favorite heroine, Ruth. 
 
 3. Favorite study, Mathematics. 
 
 4. Favorite amusement, Skating. 
 
 5. Favorite musical instrument, the Bugle.* 
 
 6. Favorite poem, "The Battle of Ivry," by 
 Macaulay. 
 
 Various were the conjectures about the author 
 ship ; but Martin turned to Julius and asked, " Who 
 did you mean by David ? " 
 
 Julius, forgetful that he was not obliged to confess, 
 replied, " David the shepherd, the poet, the warrior, 
 the king of Israel." 
 
 "O the giant-killer," retorted Martin, scornfully. 
 " Who would have thought of going to the Bible for 
 a hero!" 
 
A BIRTHDAY PARTY. 15 
 
 "I don't know where you could find greater he 
 roes/' replied Julius, calmly and decidedly. 
 
 " But you take your heroine from among the liv 
 ing," continued Martin, casting a significant glance 
 at Ruth Roland. 
 
 "No; the hero suggested the heroine. I chose 
 her from the same source," replied Julius, not daunt 
 ed by Martin's impertinence. 
 
 " Ruth ! " exclaimed Martin contemptuously ; " I 
 don't remember any one of that name in the old 
 book; it seems you are more familiar with it than 
 with any other book, though you profess to have read 
 Caesar and Cicero." 
 
 There was a half-suppressed giggle among the 
 boys. Ruth, observing the usually pale face of Ju 
 lius deeply flushed, was about to come to his aid. 
 Before she had decided what to say, the boy, before 
 whose mind's eye had passed a vision of his sainted 
 mother, asked himself why he should be ashamed to 
 acknowledge the truth, and then spoke out frankly 
 and fearlessly, yet with a moistened eye and a voice 
 full of feeling : " Thanks to my mother, I have read 
 the Bible more than any other book, and like it bet 
 ter, for its poetry, its history, and its narratives, than 
 any other book," and his voice fell to a deep, low 
 
16 I WILL BE A SOLDIER 
 
 tone as he added, " and for other reasons that I 
 might mention." 
 
 " Then I suppose Mr. Julius Farley is what they 
 call a Bible Christian," retorted Martin, with a 
 sneer. 
 
 Again the memory of his beloved mother's teach 
 ing and example came to his aid, and he replied, 
 with touching earnestness, " Would to God I de 
 served that best of all names ! " 
 
 There was no reply from Martin ; even his bold 
 impertinence was quelled, and a thrill of tender sym 
 pathy passed through the group of boys, and sincere 
 admiration for the manly courage of their youthful 
 companion. 
 
 Tears were in the eyes of Ruth as she rose from 
 the table and went to the piano. 
 
 She played one of Beethoven's symphonies, and 
 then, to enliven the party, she gave them several 
 spirited airs, and left them to amuse themselves for 
 the remainder of the evening. 
 
CHAPTER III. 
 
 A FLOGGING. 
 
 AFTER an absence of several weeks, Mr. Roland 
 returned home, the very day succeeding the birthday 
 party. 
 
 At the dinner-table, as Ruth was extending her 
 arm to pass something to Tom, Mr. Roland ex 
 claimed, " My daughter ! What ails your arm ! It 
 seems to be shockingly bruised." 
 
 No one answered. 
 
 " Tell me, how did it happen ? " he continued, im 
 peratively. 
 
 Ruth looked eagerly at Tom, hoping he would ac 
 knowledge that it was his fault. She looked in vain. 
 
 " Ruth, tell me how it happened." 
 
 " Please excuse me, father," pleaded Ruth, unwill 
 ing that her brother should be punished. 
 
 Mr. Roland turned his eyes upon Tom, who sat 
 trembling from head to foot, and said, " You are the 
 guilty one, Tom ; confess immediately." 
 
18 I WILL BE A SOLDIER. 
 
 Thus urged, Tom muttered, "I happened to hit 
 Ruth." 
 
 " I shall get nothing out of you, Tom ; tell me how 
 it happened, Ruth." 
 
 " I am ashamed of you, Tom," she said. " Why 
 don't you say you were about to strike Julius, and I 
 prevented it ? " 
 
 " Strike my sister's son ! " exclaimed Mr. Roland, 
 laying down knife and fork, and giving Tom a look 
 that might have made a stouter heart quail ; " strike 
 my sister's son ! an orphan, under my protection." 
 
 " He contradicted me," muttered Tom. 
 
 Ruth explained the matter clearly and fairly. 
 
 " So, then, you told a lie to begin with, and persist 
 ed in it. Come with me to the library." 
 
 "I haven't done my dinner," whimpered the 
 young glutton. 
 
 " Come along ; I am disgusted with you," said 
 Mr. Roland, rising from table. 
 
 " Please, sir, to remember that I contradicted Tom 
 very warmly, and therefore it was partly my fault," 
 suggested Julius. 
 
 "You need not try to excuse Tom; you were 
 right in denying what you knew to be false. Come 
 along, you bad boy." So saying, Mr. Roland took 
 
A FLOGGING. 19 
 
 Tom by the arm and hurried him away to the library, 
 and turned the key. 
 
 Taking a rattan in his hand, he said, "Lying is 
 both wicked and mean. A Christian will not lie, 
 neither will a man of honor. Even heathen Persians 
 punished their children for lying." 
 
 One, two, three, four, five strokes came smartly 
 on the back and shoulders of Tom, slightly protected 
 as they were by a linen jacket. 
 
 Tom roared and kicked and struggled in vain ; he 
 was held by a firm hand. " You attempted to strike 
 your cousin, an orphan boy, without brother or sister, 
 beloved for his mother's sake and his own. Take 
 five more for that." 
 
 Again came the blows from the rattan. "You 
 are no Spartan ! How you yell ! Take five more 
 for choosing for your friend such a fellow as Martin 
 Hackerty." 
 
 Fiercer than ever came the blows, and Tom's 
 shrieks were redoubled. 
 
 " There, you have had but fifteen strokes, when 
 you richly deserve double the number. Sorry am I 
 that whipping is the only punishment that meets 
 the case. Shame that a boy of fourteen should 
 require corporal punishment. Now stay where you 
 
20 I WILL BE A SOLDIER. 
 
 are till you are ready to ask forgiveness of Ruth and 
 Julius." 
 
 " Ain't I going to have the rest of my dinner ? " 
 blubbered out Tom. 
 
 u Detestable ! " exclaimed the father, as he closed 
 the door, turned the key, and put it in his pocket. 
 
 Mr. Roland had been but little with his son, hav 
 ing left him to the care of a weak, indulgent nurse, 
 who pampered and spoiled him. 
 
 " I am paying dearly for my neglect of this boy," 
 thought he, as he returned to Ruth and Julius, who 
 were still waiting for him at table with grave and 
 sad countenances. Mr. Roland assumed a cheerful 
 manner, made no allusion to what had happened, and 
 endeavored to devote himself to the unfinished meal, 
 but he had entirely lost his appetite. 
 
 As he left the table, he said, " I have the key of 
 the library in my pocket. Tom must be left to soli 
 tary confinement." 
 
 Meantime, Tom, smarting under the heavy blows, 
 threw himself upon a sofa, and cried himself to sleep. 
 
 A large bay-window on one side of the library 
 opened upon the lawn. Mr. Roland had not ob 
 served that one side of this window was freely admit 
 ting the summer air, redolent of June roses. An- 
 
A FLOGGING. 21 
 
 other, however, had observed it, and been drawn to 
 wards the window by the shrieks which issued from 
 it. A stealthy step stole towards the sleeping boy, 
 and a hand was laid upon his shoulder. It was his 
 evil genius, Martin Hackerty. 
 
 " Come, Tom," said he, " don't be napping it here 
 this glorious afternoon. A lot of us are going into 
 Uncle Moses's strawberry-beds." 
 
 The very name of the delicious fruit was enough 
 to arouse Tom. He started up, saying, " I should 
 like to go with you." 
 
 " Come along then, quick." 
 
 " But I can't get my hat ; the library door is 
 locked," replied Tom, dolefully. 
 
 " Never mind. There 's your father's smoking- 
 cap, wear that." 
 
 " I 'm afraid he '11 catch me with it on," replied 
 Tom hesitatingly. 
 
 "No, indeed, he wont; I saw the old governor 
 going down to the river with his prim pet, Jule. 
 Come, let 's be off." 
 
 So saying, Martin placed the cap on Tom's head, 
 and, taking the arm of the half-reluctant boy, led 
 him away. 
 
22 I WILL BE A SOLDIER. 
 
 CHAPTER IV. 
 
 LEARNING TO SWIM. 
 
 "JuLicrs, we will go down to the river this after 
 noon. I will teach you to swim," said Mr. Roland. 
 " You need all kinds of athletic exercises', for your 
 mind has outgrown your body. You are mentally 
 very mature." 
 
 " Perhaps I am stronger, uncle, than you think I 
 am. I have always been fond of boys' plays, and 
 have been much in the open air. I never have 
 learned to swim, though, and should be right glad to 
 have you teach me." 
 
 " I have .an excellent life-preserver, with which 
 you shall make your first attempt ; a complete cork- 
 jacket, that would bear up a heavy man and your 
 light body into the bargain." 
 
 One of those beautiful bays that adorn the noble 
 Hudson spread out just below Elmlawn, Mr. Ro 
 land's place, and the water, by continual dashing on 
 one side of this bay, had formed a smooth, pebbly 
 
LEARNING TO SWIM. 23 
 
 beach. It was about three quarters of a mile from 
 the house. A small wharf was built out into the 
 river to facilitate a landing from boats. 
 
 Mr. Roland and Julius put on their bathing-clothes 
 at a small bathing-house by the river-side, and the 
 cork-jacket was firmly fastened upon Julius. 
 
 From the wharf they were to jump into the river. 
 
 " Don't be afraid, Julius ; plunge in," said Mr. 
 Roland, setting the example. 
 
 Julius did as directed ; went plump into and un 
 der the water, but instantly rose to the surface. 
 
 " Now imagine you are a turtle, and put out your 
 paddles ; you understand it is the resistance of the 
 water to your hands and feet that forces you along, 
 just as the oars make the boat move." 
 
 Julius did exactly as he was directed. 
 
 " Why, boy, you '11 make a first-rate swimmer ; 
 soon you can try without the life-preserver." 
 
 They remained in the water about half an hour, 
 and then made for the beach, Mr. Roland complain 
 ing that he felt chilly, and had been in long enough. 
 
 They were already in shallow water, when Mr. 
 Roland suddenly went under, but immediately rose 
 again, making a desperate struggle to sustain him 
 self. 
 
24 I WILL BE A SOLDIER. 
 
 Julius seized him by the wrist, and with a tre 
 mendous effort drew him ashore. There lay his 
 kind uncle, apparently lifeless. Julius ran to the 
 bathing-house, and brought out a blanket and a num 
 ber of towels. While running, he shrieked for help, 
 but no one came. 
 
 He covered the cold body with the blanket, and 
 rubbed it vigorously with the towels. After what 
 seemed to Julius an age, but was not really more 
 than a quarter of an hour, Mr. Roland opened his 
 eyes and faintly smiled. Julius continued to rub 
 him with all his might. 
 
 At length he said, "That will do, Julius; I can 
 walk to the bathing-house now." 
 
 With some effort, aided by Julius, he rose from 
 the beach, and leaning on the form that he had con 
 sidered so " slight," reached the bathing-house. 
 
 " It is marvellous how you got me ashore, my boy ; 
 I thought my death-hour had come. I had a sudden 
 cramp, and was utterly powerless. You have saved 
 my life. I thank you a thousand thousand times." 
 
 *' Thank God, my dear uncle," whispered Julius, 
 solemnly. 
 
 When Mr. Roland was dressed, Julius proposed to 
 run for the carriage. 
 
LEARNING TO SWIM. 25 
 
 u What, in your cork -jacket ? " replied Mr. Ro 
 land, laughing, for as yet Julius had not thought of 
 himself. 
 
 " Yes ; if you are in haste, I can go with my bath 
 ing-dress, for it really is quite dry." 
 
 " No, no ; change your dress, my dear boy." 
 
 While Julius was gone for the carriage, Mr. Ro 
 land reflected upon what had passed that day, and 
 sighed deeply when he thought what might have 
 been the consequence if Tom had been with him in 
 stead of Julius, for he would not have had the cour 
 age and presence of mind that had been the means, 
 under God, of saving his life. Soon Julius returned 
 with Ruth in the carriage. 
 
 " Here, father, take some wine ; I brought a bot 
 tle, for Julius advised it," said she, taking a wine 
 glass from her pocket and filling it. 
 
 " Take it first yourself, Julius ; I am sure you 
 need it," said Mr. Roland. 
 
 " Thank you, I never take wine ; you need it, and 
 I do not." 
 
 Mr. Roland was about to inquire for Tom, but 
 he remembered that he had the key of the library 
 in his pocket, and supposed he was still there. 
 
 On entering the house, he went immediately to 
 
26 I WILL BE A SOLDIER. 
 
 the library, his feelings softened and his mind solem 
 nized by his recent escape from a watery grave. 
 
 He unlocked the door, and entered. No Tom 
 there ! The bay-window was open ; he stepped to 
 it, and called, "Thomas, my son," in the most gentle, 
 affectionate tone. No answer. 
 
 < 
 
 The father was unusually nervous, and feared he 
 had driven his son by his severity to some desperate 
 act. 
 
 Ruth came to relieve his anxiety. 
 
 " Father, one of the servants saw Tom going to 
 wards the village with Martin Hackerty." 
 
 "Martin Hackerty," exclaimed Mr. Roland, with 
 a sad shake of the head. 
 
MY BEAUTIFUL LAXD. 27 
 
 CHAPTER V. 
 
 MY BEAUTIFUL LAND. 
 
 " The trees were leaning on the west, 
 Like watchers of the golden sky," 
 
 while rosy clouds were floating in the east, on that 
 soft summer evening. But neither the glorious sun 
 set sky nor the emerald greenness of " leafy June " 
 were noticed by Tom, as he stealthily crept along 
 the elm avenue to the library window. It was fas 
 tened ; he must go to the door. He stole around to 
 the kitchen. 
 
 Old !hloe, the colored cook, had been in the family 
 many years, and was a despot in her own domain. 
 She sat by the wide chimney, smoking her evening 
 pipe. 
 
 Tom tucked his father's cap under his jacket, and 
 said, in a humble tone, " Chloe, I want you to give 
 me some cake or pie." 
 
 " What you got under your jacket ? You look as 
 if you 'd been robbing a hen-roost ; I don't know 
 
28 I WILL BE A SOLDIER. 
 
 but you have. Go 'way, naughty boy ; I heard you 
 squeal like a stuck pig in the library." 
 
 " I 'm hungry," said Tom. * 
 
 " Never saw the time you was n't. It 's your look 
 out to be here at tea-time. Clear out of my kitchen." 
 
 Thus coarsely repulsed, Tom made his way round 
 to the western door. There was a veranda on 
 this side of the house, and there sat Mr. Roland, 
 Ruth, and Julius, quietly enjoying the peaceful 
 close of an eventful day. Suddenly Tom came 
 in sight. 
 
 The father, glad to see his son alive and well, 
 exclaimed, " Ah, Tom, is that you ? " 
 
 "What a poor creature a sneak is ! Tom was one 
 at that moment, and, though he had very little sen 
 sibility, he felt ashamed of himself. 
 
 " Come here, Thomas, my boy," continued Mr. 
 Roland, kindly ; " come and sit with us." 
 
 This salutation was quite unexpected. Tom 
 stumbled up the steps, and as he reached the plat 
 form dropped the smoking-cap. 
 
 " Ah ! my gay smoking-cap ! Ruth's handiwork ! 
 I have heard of stepping into other people's shoes, 
 but you have come under another's head-gear. Who 
 knows how soon you may have to step into your 
 
MY BEAUTIFUL LAND. 29 
 
 father's place ? Here is a chair, Tom ; take it, and 
 sit with us. I will not question you to-night about 
 your doings since we saw you last. We were speak 
 ing of the game of* Favorites.' I should like to join 
 with you when you play it again. That led us to 
 speak of other favorites, and Julius has just repeated 
 one of his, Macaulay's Horatius, who kept the 
 Bridge. Come, my daughter, recite something 
 patriotic for us ; something about our own country." 
 
 Ruth hesitated a moment, then remarked, " I can 
 not say it is one of my favorites, but such as it is, I 
 will repeat it." 
 
 With her eyes cast down and a deepening rose 
 upon her cheeks, she recited the following lines : 
 
 MY BEAUTIFUL LAND. 
 
 From Maine, with her rocks and her forests of pines, 
 To Florida's glades, or lone Texas' green strand, 
 
 From Jersey's bright fields to far Oregon's coast, 
 E pluribus unum, my beautiful land ! 
 
 Our glorious rivers are full-flowing veins, 
 
 A framework of bones our strong mountains must stand; 
 What power can sever this whole living thing ! 
 
 E pluribus unum, my beautiful land ! 
 
 What profits the heart, if the head be cut off ? 
 Alas for the head when it loses its hand ! 
 
30 I WILL BE A SOLDIER. 
 
 Each State is a member too precious to spare, 
 E pluribus unum, my beautiful land ! 
 
 Then onward together be ever our course 
 
 Along the bright pathway our Maker has planned; 
 
 So honor and blessing and gladness be thine, 
 E pluribus unum, my beautiful land ! 
 
 "Three cheers for Ruth! It's her own! it*d 
 her own ! " exclaimed Julius, clapping his hands. 
 
 " I don't believe you wrote it," said Tom. " Did 
 you ? " 
 
 " Now tell the truth, my precious Ruth," ex 
 claimed Mr. Roland. 
 
 " The vote is not unanimous ; so, according to our 
 game, I am not obliged to confess," replied Ruth, 
 laughingly. 
 
 " I give in, and hold up my hand for you," said 
 Tom. Is it yours ? " 
 
 "Then I must acknowledge the authorship," was 
 Ruth's reply. 
 
 " Come, Tom," said Mr. Roland, " it is your turn 
 to recite something. Speak up boldly; what will 
 you give us ? " 
 
 " I don't remember anything," was the reply. 
 
 " You have learned Casabianca," suggested Julius. 
 
 " I don't like it," blurted out Tom. 
 
MY BEAUTIFUL LAND. 31 
 
 " Not like Casablanca," exclaimed Julius ; " I 
 thought everybody admired that brave, noble boy." 
 
 " I only learnt it by rote, to say at school, and 
 have forgotten every word of it. May n't I go and 
 get my supper." 
 
 " Yes ; go as quickly as you please. By the way, 
 who did you name last night for your favorite hero ? " 
 asked Mr. Roland. 
 
 " Hegobbleus, I believe, was the name," said Tom. 
 
 " Hegobbleus ! what does he mean, Ruth ? " 
 
 " I remember Heliogabalus, the Roman Emperor, 
 was given on one of the papers," answered Ruth. 
 
 " Martin Hackerty gave me the name," said Tom. 
 " I could not think of any hero myself." 
 
 " Go to bed, Tom ; I am ashamed of you." 
 
 Ruth, compassionating her brother, whispered, " I 
 will go with you, Tom, and see to your supper." 
 
 For many minutes after the brother and sister left 
 the veranda there was a dead silence. At length 
 Mr. Roland said, " I shall take Tom to a boarding- 
 school next Monday. That Martin Hackerty is a 
 pest, a moral poison. Will you too go to the distant 
 school ? " 
 
 " If it is your wish, sir," replied Julius. 
 
 " Take your choice freely." 
 
32 I WILL BE A SOLDIER. 
 
 " Then I should prefer to remain with Ruth. Her 
 manners and conversation are a great advantage to 
 me." 
 
 "Beware of that Martin Hackerty," added Mr. 
 Roland. 
 
 " He is mischievous, and tries to be witty," replied 
 Julius ; " but he has one good trait ; he tells the 
 truth." 
 
 " You have good principles, Julius, but it is well 
 to be on your guard against temptation. I believe 
 you inherit your blessed mother's piety." 
 
 " I think, sir, piety does not come by inheritance. 
 I am constantly struggling against sin ; but I remem 
 ber my mother's dying prayer for me, and trust it 
 may be answered." 
 
 " I never shall forget how solemnly she committed 
 you to my charge, and how solemnly I accepted that 
 charge, with my hand upon the Holy Book," said 
 Mr. Roland. 
 
SERGEANT MOSES. 33 
 
 CHAPTER VI. 
 
 SERGEANT MOSES. 
 
 THE next morning, at the breakfast-table, the 
 waiter handed a note to Mr. Roland. He read it, 
 frowned, looked puzzled, and at length said, " Here 
 is a bill from one Moses Mullerkin for four quarts of 
 strawberries, twenty-five cents per quart; one 
 dollar." 
 
 " I did n't eat four quarts, and I did n't know they 
 were to be paid for," cried Tom. 
 
 " Four quarts of strawberries ! You have a capa 
 cious stomach, Thomas Roland. I suppose that was the 
 spree you were on yesterday, with jour friend Martin." 
 
 " I went with hjm and three other boys ; Martin 
 said we had permission from Moses." 
 +' Who is Moses Mullerkin ? " 
 
 " I don't know ; only he sells fruit and flowers. 
 He lives a quarter of a mile off the main road." 
 
 " Here, Julius, take this dollar and pay the man, 
 Tom will go with you," said Mr. Roland, handing the 
 money to Julius. 
 
 2* c 
 
34 I WILL BE A SOLDIER. 
 
 " Can't he go without me ? I am afraid of the dog." 
 
 " So you would have Julius go alone where you 
 have not the courage to go yourself, even with him ? 
 Don't make yourself utterly contemptible." 
 
 Tom followed Julius laggingly out of the house. 
 
 The boys walked on in silence, Julius admiring 
 the wild-flowers by the road-side and the birds flitting 
 from branch to branch 
 
 As for Tom, 
 
 " A primrose by the river's brim 
 A yellow primrose was to him, 
 *And it was nothing more." 
 
 Julius never lectured Tom. He was two months 
 younger than his burly cousin, and very wisely gave 
 him, unconsciously, the best possible lecture, namely, 
 a good example. Morever, he never by word or 
 look expressed contempt for Tom, though he must 
 have felt it at the bottom of his heart. 
 
 After a walk of two miles, they turned from the 
 main road, and in a short time reached the gardelf- 
 er's cottage ; a few rose-bushes and a wide border of 
 lilies of the valley were in front; the garden was 
 behind the cottage. 
 
 Sitting upon the door-step was a little girl, appar 
 ently about eight years old, simply but neatly dressed, 
 
SERGEANT MOSES. 35 
 
 and almost as fair as the lilies in her hand, whose 
 fragrance she was inhaling. By her side was a small 
 brown and white dog with a collar, to which a long 
 string was attached, which she held in the other hand. 
 
 "Is Mr. Moses Mullerkin at home?" inquired 
 Julius. 
 
 The child answered, without turning her large, 
 dark eyes towards the speaker. 
 
 " That means my grandfather ; he 's in the garden , 
 but you must call him Sergeant Moses," answered 
 the child. 
 
 Through a side gate the boys passed to the gar 
 dens, filled with a profusion of fruit and flowers. See 
 ing the gardener's large dog, Tom hid himself behind 
 some tall lilac-bushes. 
 
 An old man, with hair snowy white, dressed in 
 an old military coat and gray pantaloons, was hoeing 
 among the raspberry-bushes, with the hoe in one hand. 
 
 " Sergeant Moses," said Julius, " I Ve come to 
 pay you for the four quarts of strawberries charged 
 in this bill to Mr. Francis Roland." 
 
 " Don't play your mischievous tricks on me ; I am 
 a poor old soldier, trying to be an honest man. Mr. 
 Roland never had any strawberries of me." 
 
 " It was his son who ate the strawberries yester 
 day, and I am to pay for them," said Julius. 
 
36 I WILL BE A SOLDIER. 
 
 Sergeant Moses put on a huge pair of spectacles, 
 and as he did so Julius observed that he had but 
 one hand. 
 
 " I never wrote this bill," said he. " I told Martin 
 he might come here, with two or three boys, and eat 
 strawberries, as many as they chose. I did not ex 
 pect them to tread down the vines as they did." 
 
 " Then take the money for the damage done to 
 the vines, please do," said Julius, offering the bright 
 silver dollar. 
 
 "No, no; Sergeant Moses is not the man to do 
 that thing. You are a very civil-spoken lad. What 
 may I call you ? " 
 
 " Julius Farley." 
 
 " Well, good by. Call again." 
 
 " I should like to come again. Good by, Sergeant." 
 
 The old man shouldered his hoe like a musket, 
 and was following Julius to the gate, when Tom 
 emerged from his hiding-place. The big dog began 
 to growl, and Tom made off at a rapid rate. 
 
 " Ah ! that 's the youngster who threw a stone at 
 Bowzer yesterday. See how the poor dog limps ! 
 That fellow had better keep out of the way." 
 
 As Julius passed near the little girl on the door 
 step, he said, " Good morning," to her, and she re 
 turned it, still without looking at him. 
 
SERGEANT MOSES. 37 
 
 The old man whispered in Julius's ear, " The poor 
 dear is entirely blind." 
 
 Julius bowed, said " Farewell," and the soldier 
 gave him a salute in military style. 
 
 Tom ran till he reached the main road, and then 
 waited for Julius to come up with him. 
 
 "That's a fine old fellow; he wouldn't take the 
 dollar, and says he never made out the bill." 
 
 " Then give me the dollar," cried Tom. 
 
 " No, indeed ; I shall not ; I shall return it to your 
 father," replied Julius, decidedly. 
 
 " You shall give it to me, or I will take it from you." 
 
 " You can't do it." 
 
 Tom seized Julius by the shoulder to throw him 
 down, but quick as thought Julius clasped him round 
 the waist, and laid him flat upon the ground. 
 
 "Well done!" cried Martin Hackerty, as he 
 jumped over a fence into the road. 
 
 " That was n't fair," grumbled Tom, brushing off 
 the dust. 
 
 " Then try it again, Tom," said Martin. 
 
 Thus urged, Tom flew at Julius, and endeavored 
 to trip him up, but Julius was a wiry little fellow, 
 with a great deal of nerve, and it was not so easy a 
 matter. After a severe struggle, fat Tom again lay 
 sprawling on the ground. 
 
38 I WILL BE A SOLDIER. 
 
 Capital ! " shouted Martin ; " I did n't think you 
 were up to that, Master Julius. In time you will 
 equal your great namesake, Julius Caesar." 
 
 " I had to defend myself," replied Julius, coolly. 
 " I never attack a fellow." 
 
 Tom got up, looking very sheepish, and went lag 
 ging along behind the others. 
 
 " Where have you been ? " asked Martin. 
 
 " We went to pay a bill to one Moses Mullerkin, 
 and the good old man did not send it." 
 
 A mischievous grin and a shrug of the shoulders 
 from Martin revealed to Julius the writer of the 
 bill. 
 
 " What tempted you to write this ? " exclaimed he, 
 showing the bill. 
 
 Martin snatched it from his hand, and tore it to 
 pieces, saying, "It was just for fun," then added, 
 " Tom really went into the strawberries so beyond all 
 reason that it was no more than right that Sergeant 
 Moses should be paid." 
 
 " It was a poor joke, a very poor joke," coolly 
 remarked Julius. "I thought you prided yourself 
 upon speaking the truth." 
 
 " I don't lie ; it 's too mean ; did n't I acknowledge 
 the corn ? " laughingly asked Martin. 
 
SERGEANT MOSES. 39 
 
 " You mean that you acknowledge the bill. Mar 
 tin, you were acting a lie in making out the bill, 
 and almost committing forgery." 
 
 " You treat the matter too gravely ; I did n't sign 
 the old fellow's name, and did n't suppose it would 
 be given to Mr. Roland. I sent it to Tom, just to 
 frighten him." 
 
 "It came qurte too near lying and forgery. I 
 should soon lose all respect for you, Martin, if you 
 were to repeat such jokes" 
 
 " Then you have the least bit of respect for me ! 
 I will make it grow as tall as Jack's bean," said 
 Martin, giving Julius a slap on the back, and adding, 
 " You are a right smart fellow, Julius ; I have real 
 respect for you, and no mistake." 
 
 When Julius returned the dollar to Mr. Roland, 
 and explained the matter, it was considered even 
 more serious by him than it had been by Julius. Ex 
 ceedingly provoked with Martin Hackerty, he wrote 
 him a very sharp letter, to which he received the fol 
 lowing reply: 
 
 FRANCIS ROLAND, ESQ.: 
 
 RESPECTED SIR, Allow me to recommend to 
 your attention two proverbs. " People whose sons 
 
40 I WILL BE A SOLDIER. 
 
 live in glass houses should not throw stones." " Every 
 crow thinks his own crowling the whitest." 
 
 Very respectfully yours, 
 
 MARTIN HACKERTY. 
 
 Mr. Roland put the saucy note in his pocket very 
 quietly. 
 
 " Ruth," said he, " you must have Tom's wardrobe 
 ready, for I shall leave with him on Monday morn 
 ing." 
 
BLACK DUKE. 41 
 
 CHAPTER VII. 
 
 BLACK DUKE. 
 
 ON Saturday morning Mr. Roland asked Julius if 
 he had been accustomed to riding on horseback. He 
 said he had never been on a horse but twice in his 
 life. 
 
 " You shall try Black Duke to-day, and I will ride 
 one of the carriage-horses," said Mr. Roland. 
 
 " O father ! your horse is so gay, and he has not 
 been ridden for a long time ; please let Julius take 
 my pony," entreated Ruth. 
 
 " No, my dear ; Julius must learn to manage Black 
 Duke, so that he can be your escort when I am 
 away," was the decided reply. 
 
 " I am not afraid to ride Black Duke, especially 
 when uncle will be with me," said Julius. 
 
 " He ran away with me once, and I have never 
 been on horseback since," whispered Tom in JuMus's 
 ear. 
 
 "I will have the horse saddled immediately. I 
 
42 I WILL BE A SOLDIER. 
 
 am going about six miles from home. Make your 
 self ready, Julius." 
 
 The large, strong Black Duke, with his neck 
 curved like the war-horse who "scents the battle 
 afar," was brought to the door. Mr. Roland in 
 structed Julius how to mount, how to sit, and they 
 started off together on a full trot. 
 
 Ruth looked after them with fear and trembling ; 
 but there was no fear and trembling on the part of 
 Julius. He sat erect upon Black Duke, and rode 
 like an Arab. 
 
 "Why, you are a brave little fellow," said Mr. 
 Roland. " You must ride very often with Ruth, and 
 without her, too. But never be tempted to ride in 
 company with that Martin Hackerty ; he would be 
 sure to play you some shabby trick." 
 
 Notwithstanding the fear and anxiety of Ruth, Mr. 
 Roland and Julius returned safely from their long 
 ride ; but Julius was very glad to go to bed imme 
 diately after tea, for, although he did not utter a 
 word of complaint, he was very tired, and ached from 
 head to heel. On Sunday morning, as he dressed 
 himself, he felt stiff and sore as though every muscle 
 in his body had been pounded with a rolling-pin. 
 His good uncle could scarcely suppress a smile as 
 
BLACK DUKE. 43 
 
 Julius moved slowly and carefully about, but he 
 made no remark, asked no questions. He thought, 
 however, " That boy would have done honor to the 
 Lacedaemonians. The stolen fox might have torn 
 him to pieces before he would have betrayed it." 
 
 Better still, Julius might have equalled in courage 
 the boy of whom Browning so beautifully tells the 
 story. 
 
 " You know we French stormed Katisbon; 
 
 A mile or so away, 
 On a little mound, Napoleon 
 
 Stood on our storming day: 
 With neck out-thrust, you fancy how, 
 
 Legs wide, arms locked behind, 
 As if to balance the proud brow 
 
 Oppressive with its mind. 
 
 " Just as perhaps he mused, ' My plans, 
 
 That soar, to earth may fall, 
 Let once my army-leader, Lannes, 
 
 Waver at yonder wall ' ; 
 Out 'twixt the battery-smokes there flew 
 
 A rider, bound on bound, 
 Full galloping, nor bridle drew 
 
 Until he reached the mound. 
 
 " Then off there flung in smiling joy, 
 And held himself erect 
 
44 I WILL BE A SOLDIER. 
 
 By just his horse's mane, a boy: 
 
 You hardly could suspect, 
 So tight he kept his lips compressed, 
 
 Scarce any blood came through, 
 You looked twice ere you saw his breast 
 
 Was all but shot in two. 
 
 "'Well,' cried he, ' Emperor! by God's grace 
 
 We 've got you Eatisbon ! 
 The Marshal 's in the market-place, 
 
 And you '11 be there anon 
 To see your flag-bird flap his vans 
 
 Where I, to heart's desire, 
 Perched him ! ' The chief's eye flashed; his plans 
 
 Soared up again like fire. 
 
 " The chief's eye flashed, but presently 
 
 Softened itself, as sheathes 
 A film the mother-eagle's eye 
 
 When her bruised eaglet breathes : 
 ' You 're wounded ! ' ' Nay,' his soldier's pride 
 
 Touched to the quick, he said ; 
 ' 1 'm killed, Sire ! ' And, his chief beside, 
 
 Smiling, the boy fell dead.'* 
 
 Early on Monday morning Mr. Eoland and Tom 
 started for the distant boarding-school. Tom blub 
 bered and boohooed even after they reached the 
 train and were seated in the cars. 
 
 The passengers looked with surprise at the big 
 
BLACK DUKE. 45 
 
 boy, but seeing the gentleman with him quite uncon 
 cerned, concluded that it was best to take no notice 
 of him. One compassionate soul, however, a plain 
 countrywoman, who sat in the seat before them, 
 took a piece of gingerbread from her wallet, and 
 handed it to Tom, saying, " Perhaps you are hun 
 gry, boy." 
 
 Tom f took the gingerbread without so much as 
 "Thank you," and, devouring it with his usual 
 gusto, stopped crying. 
 
 Without accident or detention they arrived at 
 their place of destination. Tom was placed under 
 the charge of the Principal, with an injunction from 
 his father, that the Principal and his subordinates 
 should be very strict with Tom, and not allow him 
 to get into mischief. 
 
 Mr. Roland's tender feelings, however, so over 
 came him when parting with his son, that he gave 
 him a large amount of pocket-money. 
 
 " Now, my son, remember," said he, " I do not 
 place you here as a punishment. It is for your good. 
 Study hard, keep clear of bad companions, and re 
 solve, with God's help, to become a good and useful 
 man. Write to me once a week." 
 
 Tom chinked the money in his pocket, and parted 
 from his kind father without a tear. 
 
46 I WILL BE A SOLDIER. 
 
 Alas ! what child can imagine the fearful disap 
 pointment of a parent, when the promised blessing 
 of an only son is likely to prove a curse ! The 
 dear, delicious hopes so fondly cherished over the 
 cradle changed to mournful forebodings ! 
 
JULIUS RODE BLACK PUKK KVKRV MORXIXC; FOR AN 
 BEFORE BREAKFAST, SOMETIMES WITH RlJTH OX HER PoXY, 
 
 AT OTHER TIMES ALOXE. Pilgo47. 
 
TEMPTATION. 47 
 
 CHAPTER VIII. 
 
 TEMPTATION. 
 
 A FEW days passed away very quietly at Elmlawn. 
 Ruth was grieved at the necessity for her brother's 
 absence, but believing it to be for the best to remove 
 him from bad influences, cheerfully submitted to it. 
 
 Julius rode Black Duke every morning for an 
 hour before breakfast, sometimes with Ruth on her 
 pony, and at other times alone. He did not forget 
 his promise to call again at the cottage of the market- 
 gardener, Sergeant Moses. 
 
 On Saturday, his holiday, he started after break 
 fast to pay the promised visit. 
 
 " Hurrah ! hold up ! " cried a voice behind him, 
 and the sound of the horse's heels coming rapidly 
 towards him made Black Duke quicken his steps 
 almost to a run. 
 
 " Hold up ! I say ; I am not riding a race for a 
 wager." 
 
 Julius reined in his fiery charger, and Martin 
 Hackerty, for he it was, came along-side of him. 
 
48 I WILL BE A SOLDIER. 
 
 " Why, you ride like the Flying Dutchman," said 
 Martin; "you are a different boy, altogether, from 
 what I thought you." 
 
 " What was that ? " asked Julius, at the moment, 
 quite forgetful of his uncle's injunction to avoid 
 Martin, besides, he was on the high road, and could 
 not without absolute rudeness free himself from his 
 companion. 
 
 " I thought you a prinky, spinky, dolly-boy, with 
 out a bit of spunk." 
 
 " When did you change your opinion ? " asked Julius. 
 
 " When I saw you tumble fat Tom into the dust." 
 
 " That I did in maintaining my right, and in self- 
 defence." 
 
 " But there was real vim in it, just as there is 
 when you play ' shinny? Zounds ! you beat every 
 boy on the play-ground ! And your laugh does one 
 good, it is so jolly hearty, and you ride like a trooper ; 
 you rode just now as if you were going to " 
 
 " Stop, Martin ! don't use that profane word," 
 cried Julius, seriously. 
 
 " There now, you are so pious, so mighty good, 
 the very reason why I thought there was no fun 
 in you," retorted Martin. 
 
 " I like fun of the right sort as well as any boy, 
 but I don't like vulgarity or profanity." 
 
TEMPTATION. 49 
 
 " I don't quite understand your notions," continued 
 Martin, "yet I like you, Julius, and prefer your 
 company to stupid Tom Roland's." 
 
 " You forget the line in your copy-book, ' Either 
 say nothing of the absent, or speak as a friend.' " 
 
 " I should like you for a friend, Julius ; you might 
 reclaim such a rapscallion as I am." 
 
 Julius was not insensible to flattery ; who is f He 
 looked more favorably upon Martin, and said, kindly, 
 " You overrate my ability ; I am willing, however, 
 to do you good if I can. But here we are at 
 Moses Mullerkin's, and I must bid you good morn 
 ing." 
 
 " Stop a minute. I am going out gunning this 
 afternoon. I have a capital gun, and am going to 
 shoot wild rabbits. Will you go with me ? I will 
 meet you at the great gate of Elmlawn." 
 
 Of all things delightful, the one thing most so at 
 that moment seemed " going a gunning," and Julius 
 hastily answered, " I '11 join you, Martin." 
 
 Before he had time for a moment's reflection 
 Martin cantered off. Julius dismounted, and fastened 
 Black Duke to a post. 
 
 Sergeant Moses was, as usual, in the garden among 
 his flowers and fruit. The little blind girl was 
 
50 I WILL BE A SOLDIER. 
 
 sitting on a bench near him, with her lap full of 
 roses. 
 
 " Good morning, my pretty lad," said the old sol 
 dier, with his usual military salute. 
 
 The term "pretty lad" did not strike Julius 
 
 agreeably ; he meant to be something more. 
 it 
 " I don't see how you manage so well in gardening 
 
 with only one hand," said Julius. 
 
 " O, this stump answers every purpose. I lost 
 my hand in the defence of my country," said the 
 old soldier, shouldering his hoe. " I 'm proud of this 
 same old stump." 
 
 " Poor grandfather," said the little blind girl, 
 " did n't it hurt you to have your hand shot off ? " 
 
 " My little dear, I hardly felt it at that time. My 
 musket was loaded ; I held fast to it with this right 
 hand, and sprung the lock ; we used flint-locks then." 
 
 " Where was it ? " inquired Julius. 
 
 " Can you bear to hear a long story ? " said the 
 Sergeant. 
 
 " If it is n't too long," replied Julius, smiling. 
 
 " Sit you down here on this bench with Nannie. 
 I would rather stand," said the old soldier, leaning 
 on his hoe. " Why does a man love his country ? " 
 he continued. " For the same reason that he loves his 
 
TEMPTATION 51 
 
 family. God willed it so. Do you suppose anybody 
 would take the same care of my little Nannie that 
 I do ? She is mine ! So is my country, and a glo 
 rious country it is. 
 
 4 This is the land of every land the pride, 
 Beloved of Heaven o'er all the world beside.' 
 
 I read them lines somewhere once, and they struck 
 deep into my heart. Well, as I was saying, my 
 country was threatened with destruction, or at least, the 
 British determined to do us all the harm they could. 
 They set on them dreadful savages to slaughter the 
 Western settlers. You know about our brave Har 
 rison ? Gineral Harrison, who fought the battle of 
 Tippecanoe, and conquered, he did ; Tecumseh, the 
 Indian chief, was killed there. Then the British 
 meddled with our vessels on the ocean, and we 
 could n't bear their insults any longer, and so war 
 was declared. 
 
 " I was a farmer, and going to be married to that 
 little girl's grandmother ; but says I, ' Nancy, we must 
 wait awhile ; I 'm going to the war.' * I 'm afraid 
 you '11 be killed,' says she, with the tears in her 
 pretty blue eyes. ( But,' says I, ' you see,' says I, ' my 
 country calls me, and I must go. What would be 
 come of us if we did n't fight ? We should n't have a 
 
52 I WILL BE A SOLDIER. 
 
 country at all. Keep up good courage, Nancy, I am 
 going to enlist. So she wiped her eyes, the brave 
 girl, and I gave her one kiss, and said, ' Good by.' 
 Did n't I feel grand in my regimentals ! I '11 show 
 you my old musket by and by. Well, our little 
 navy got all the glory at first, but we soon shared it 
 with them. I fought my first battle at Lundy's Lane. 
 My gracious ! did n't the roar of battle drown the 
 roar of the catarack! We fought on the Canada 
 side, not far from great Niagara. I called my first 
 son, little Nannie's father, after the two great giner- 
 als. Yes, Scott Brown Mullerkin was his name. 
 He 's now in heaven." The old soldier was silent a 
 moment, and then continued : " I will not tell you of 
 all my adventures, but come right to the greatest of 
 all, New Orleens. There I ^was promoted to be a 
 sergeant under that grand old fellow, Gineral Jack 
 son. I think I see him now, on his war-horse, riding 
 along the ranks, with his great chapeau braw in his 
 hand and his hair standing straight up on his head, 
 looking as fierce as a catamount, and yet as cool as 
 a cucumber. O, he was a Gideon, a Ca3sar, and a 
 Bonaparte, all in one ! The soldiers were proud to 
 fight under such a gineral. Why, I tell you, he 
 looked me right hi the eye as he rode along, as much 
 
TEMPTATION. 53 
 
 as to say, l Sergeant Mullerkin, I know you '11 do 
 your duty.' 
 
 u Well, we fired away at the enemy, twelve thou 
 sand of them, and we scattered them like a flock of 
 wild pigeons. Packenham, the ' beauty and booty ' 
 gineral, was killed on the spot. We lost only seven 
 men killed. I was wounded among the very last. 
 A ball went through and through my hand, and a 
 surgeon took the hand smooth off. It was a glorious 
 victory, that famous 8th of January, and I did n't 
 think much about my wound. But as I travelled 
 home, I thought, I 'm not the man I was when 
 Nancy promised to marry me, I 'm only a poor 
 wounded soldier. O how I felt when I drew near to 
 her home ! I mounted a hill, and saw the blue 
 smoke rising from her father's cottage. Then I sat 
 down and cried, yes, cried- like a baby. ' She 
 won't have me, I know she won't. Perhaps she 's 
 married already,' says I to myself. With these sor 
 rowful thoughts in my mind, I took up the old knap 
 sack, musket, and sword, and marched on. As I 
 knocked at Nancy's door, how I trembled. She 
 came herself, looking sweeter and prettier than ever. 
 As soon as she saw me, she threw her white arms 
 round my neck, and whispered, ' Thank God ! you 'vo 
 
54 I WILL BE A SOLDIER. 
 
 come home alive.' l Yes, Nancy dear,' says I, * but 
 not all that went away. You are free from your 
 bargain, for I am a poor soldier with only one hand 
 to support you.' She sobbed as though her dear lit 
 tle heart would break, and kissed me for the first 
 time in her life. As soon as she could speak, says 
 she, * Moses, I shall be only too proud to be a brave 
 soldier's wife.' And so, not long after, we were mar 
 ried. And she was the best wife that ever mortal 
 man was blessed with." 
 
 " "Was that my grandmother ? " asked little Nan 
 nie, who all this time had been listening with eager 
 interest to the story of Sergeant Moses. 
 
 "Yes, dear, that was your granny, and I think 
 you are just like what she was at your age." 
 
 " Only she was n't blind, grandfather," replied 
 Nannie. 
 
 " Come, my lad, go in the house, and I '11 show 
 you the old musket. I carried it all through the 
 war. And I Ve got some other trophies. You may 
 lead little Nannie." 
 
 Julius took the blind girl by the hand, and the 
 three went into the house. 
 
 Over the large kitchen fireplace, upon two hooks, 
 hung a musket, as bright as steel could be mado. 
 
TEMPTATION. 55 
 
 Over one of the small windows was a sword without 
 a scabbard, equally bright, and over another an old 
 chapeau-bras and a piece of a tattered flag. ^ " Here 's 
 the old musket," said Sergeant Moses, taking it 
 down, shouldering it, and bringing his bent form into 
 an erect position, as if on drill. 
 
 " It does look old, but it 's as bright as silver," 
 said Julius. 
 
 " To be sure it is," was the quick reply. " I keep 
 it so, and the sword too ; that belonged to my cap 
 tain. He gave it to me when his company presented 
 him with a new one for his bravery and his care of 
 his soldiers. I should have liked to have used that 
 sword at Cerro Gordo, Churubusco, and Chepulte- 
 pec, under my old commander, Gineral Winfield 
 Scott, but I was almost too old, and besides, I did n't 
 know as a one-handed soldier would pass muster. 
 Here, put up my musket, boy. Did you ever handle 
 a gun ? " 
 
 "Never before," said Julius, holding the musket 
 awkwardly. 
 
 " It 's time you had. No telling how soon we may 
 want men to fight for our liberty. That chapeau, 
 they say, was Jackson's. I 'm not sure it was, but 
 I 'm willing to believe it. I wish we had a thousand 
 
56 I WILL BE A SOLDIER. 
 
 men with the spirit of that determined old man. 
 Why, he was a whole brigade in himself. He 's in 
 his peaceful grave now, God bless him ! I mean 
 to keep my musket and sword bright, and ready for 
 use, as long as I live. They will be needed, for I 
 see dark, awful, threatening clouds already down 
 South. I wish Jackson had hanged that Calhoun ; 
 he deserved it, if ever a man deserved hanging in 
 this world, and I believe the old man would have 
 hanged him, if it had n't been for some weak milk- 
 and-water advisers. But you must be tired by this 
 time of an old man's story. God be thanked that I 
 was able to do something for my country. If it 
 hadn't been for the soldiers of the Revolution, and 
 of the war of 1814, we should n't have had now this 
 beautiful, happy country, where every man sits under 
 his own vine and fig-tree with none to molest or 
 make him afraid." 
 
 " I will be a soldier I " exclaimed Julius with en 
 thusiasm. 
 
 " That 's right, my boy ; come to the old Sergeant, 
 now and then, and I '11 drill you." 
 
 " Thank you, Sergeant Moses, I am in earnest, and 
 will accept your offer," replied Julius with warmth. 
 
 He then mounted Black Duke, and rode home, 
 
TEMPTATION. 57 
 
 full of his new resolution. When he reached his 
 own room, he fell on his knees and cried, " Help me, 
 O God, to keep the resolution I have this day formed, 
 and I will be a Christian soldier." 
 
 Julius had been taught by his mother thus to ask 
 the blessing of his Heavenly Father on all his good 
 resolutions. 
 
58 I WILL BE A SOLDIER. 
 
 CHAPTER IX. 
 
 MORAL COURAGE. 
 
 " Go a gunning ! I have promised Martin to go 
 with him, ought I to break my word ? " So thought 
 Julius as he walked down to the -great gate to meet 
 Martin Hackerty. 
 
 " Uncle told me not to ride in his company, and I 
 had to do so this morning in spite of myself. He 
 did n't say I must n't walk with him." 
 
 Julius brought up these flimsy arguments to sus 
 tain him in doing what he knew would be contrary 
 to the spirit of his uncle's prohibition. 
 
 As he walked on, the solemn resolution he had 
 formed that morning rose before him, like an accus 
 ing angel. " What is the first duty of a good sol 
 dier ? Obedience." 
 
 Just as this wise reflection was uppermost in his 
 mind, he reached the gate, and there stood Martin 
 Hackerty, gun in hand. 
 
 " Come, Jule, I have been waiting for you ten 
 
MORAL COURAGE. 59 
 
 minutes. It 's a fine day for hunting. See, I 've got 
 Brownie with me to scare up the game." 
 
 " Are you going to shoot birds ! I thought wild 
 rabbits were to be the game. I can't consent to 
 shoot birds," cried Julius, glad of so good an ex 
 cuse. 
 
 " I do n't think you would be in danger of shooting 
 anything on the first trial. Come out though. What 
 makes you stand there hesitating. Pooh ! you 're 
 afraid of a gun." 
 
 " Not a bit afraid ! " exclaimed Julius, opening the 
 gate and coming outside. 
 
 " Then come along. Here, you may lead Brownie. 
 I Ve got him by a chain, because he might leave for 
 home before we get to the woods. Then and there 
 he 's safe enough." 
 
 " I am not going with you, Martin." 
 
 " Not going ? You promised you would ; and you 
 are not the fellow to be guilty of lying." 
 
 " It was a hasty promise, Martin ; I beg you to 
 release me from it." 
 
 "No; I'll be " 
 
 " Stop, Martin, do n't say that ! " cried Julius. 
 
 "Then I'll be shot if I do. Come, don't stand 
 shilly-shallying like a timid girl." 
 
60 I WILL BE A SOLDIER. 
 
 " Girls are often more courageous than boys," said 
 Julius, thinking at the moment of Cousin Ruth. 
 
 " That 's a new notion. Ha ! ha ! " laughed Martin, 
 scornfully. 
 
 "I mean they have more moral courage," said 
 Julius. 
 
 " Moral courage ! "What do you mean by that ? " 
 
 " Courage to do right under trying circumstances," 
 replied Julius, decidedly* 
 
 " You ought to be a parson ; I suppose you mean 
 to be one. I know the real reason why you won't 
 go with me is, because you are afraid of the gun. 
 I suppose nothing would tempt you to fire it off." 
 
 " Is it loaded ? " asked Julius, 
 
 " Yes ; full charged." 
 
 " Give it to me," said Julius* 
 
 Martin placed the gun in his hands, and immedi 
 ately the report echoed among the hills. 
 
 " "Well done ! " cried Martin. 
 
 There was a charm in the smell of gunpowder, 
 and the sense of power over the murderous weapon, 
 that Julius now felt for the first time. Again he 
 hesitated and thought, " But this once, only once, I 
 might go a gunning, for I ought to learn to handle a 
 
MORAL COURAGE. 61 
 
 It was a plausible reason ; Julius wavered. 
 
 " Ah, I see ! that Cousin Ruth of jours, with her 
 heroics, has prejudiced you against me. She has told 
 you, ' Martin Hackerty is a naughty boy. Beware 
 of naughty boys. Keep close to my apron-string.' " 
 
 This taunt served a different purpose from what 
 was expected. Julius ^ admired and respected Ruth, 
 and his conscience told him that her advice about 
 Martin was excellent advice. He turned suddenly, 
 opened the gate, entered, and closed it. " Good-by, 
 Martin," said he, as he hurried onward toward the 
 house. 
 
 Rapid footsteps followed him. He turned ; it was 
 Ruth herself. 
 
 " Do n't go quite so fast, Julius, though you are 
 running the right way. You have gained a triumph 
 over yourself, that renders you my ' favorite hero ' 
 to-day," said Ruth, with an approving smile. 
 
 " How do you know that, Ruth ? " 
 
 I was at the porter's lodge, teaching little Martha 
 to spell. The window was open, and I could not 
 help hearing the conversation between you and that 
 * naughty boy.' " 
 
 Julius thought how he had wavered, and, col 
 oring deeply, remarked in a very humble tone: 
 
62 I WILL BE A SOLDIER. 
 
 " I do not deserve such a high compliment from 
 you, Ruth." 
 
 " It 's no compliment, Julius. You fought against 
 your inclination, and you stood bravely the test of 
 ridicule, the most trying test, sometimes, to which 
 we can be subjected. You are my hero, and, in 
 memory of this triumph, I give you this ring, which 
 was bestowed upon me as a token of merit for what 
 I considered a very poor prize composition." 
 
 So saying, Ruth drew from her finger a plain gold 
 ring, and placed it upon the third finger of Julius's 
 left hand. 
 
 " ' Moral courage,' is the motto for that ring," said 
 Ruth. 
 
 " Thank you ; thank you a thousand times ! I 
 shall keep it as an amulet ; whether I deserve it or 
 not, it is a token of Cousin Ruth's approbation." 
 
 " A better approval is that of a good conscience," 
 added Ruth. 
 
AN ORTHOGRAPHICAL CURIOSITY". 63 
 
 CHAPTER X. 
 
 AN ORTHOGRAPHICAL CURIOSITY. 
 
 LETTER FROM THOMAS EOLAND TO Miss BOLAND. 
 
 Savenville, June, 18 . 
 
 "DEER RUTH, I now sit down to rite to you to 
 let you know I am well. No; that is not trew, I 
 am not well. The dyet here does not soot me. I 
 found it very poor so I went to the confeckshuners 
 and bort a whole lot of cakes and pise and sundys. 
 I put them in my bewrow draw for between meels. 
 You must know I have a room all to myself. Father 
 made that agrement by paying well for it. . I 've 
 been sick almost evry nite, and felt dredful lone 
 some. I wish I could go home. The boys here are 
 very rood and teese me half out of my wits. They 
 call me roly-poly, though I am no fatter than John 
 Dunham. He is the best scoller in the school, and 
 they pertend I am the poorest. They put burdock 
 burs into my bed and scotch-snuff on my pillar so 
 that I have to scrach and sneaze all nite long be- 
 
64 I WILL BE A SOLDIER. 
 
 sides being sick as a dog. I tell you, Ruth, I shan't 
 be Roly-poly much longer. I am shure I have lost a 
 duzzen pounds since I have bin hear. I suppose 
 father is not yet at home, as he said he should be 
 absent three weaks. When he does come, I wish 
 you would tell him I am quite disatisfyd with this 
 skool. Don't show him this letter nor Julius, for 
 they tell me I am a poor speller and I happen 
 not to have a dickshunary at hand for the big 
 words. 
 
 " When peeches are ripe I wish you would send 
 me a box. Tell Jule he may rite to me, but I want 
 none of his good advice. 
 
 " Effectshunately your brother 
 
 THOMAS ROLAND." 
 
 "P. S. Tell. father when he comes home that I 
 shall be out of money." 
 
 There was no need of asking Ruth not to show 
 this letter. She was so heartily ashamed of this 
 specimen of her brother's literary acquirements, that 
 she destroyed it immediately. Instead of writing 
 once a week, as his father had commanded, it was 
 three weeks before Tom wrote at all. It is doubt- 
 
AN ORTHOGRAPHICAL CURIOSITY. 65 
 
 ful if he obeyed more strictly the other parting 
 injunctions. 
 
 Boys are oftentimes so wise in their own esti 
 mation, as to be quite irritated by a command from 
 a superior. They don't acknowledge superiors ! 
 
I WILL BE A SOLDIER. 
 
 CHAPTER XI. 
 
 WILL HE KEEP HIS PEOMISE? 
 
 IT was a warm Sunday in July. As Julius was 
 returning from church, he seated himself to rest, for 
 a while, under a wide-spreading oak-tree by the 
 roadside. He had been seated thus but a few min 
 utes when his meditations were suddenly interrupted 
 by Martin Hackerty, who sprang over the fence 
 which enclosed the field adjoining the road. 
 
 " How are you, Julius ! Been to church ? " 
 
 " You have n't, I perceive," replied Julius, as he 
 observed the muddy shoes and soiled dress of his 
 companion. 
 
 " No ; it 's too stupid. I hate Sunday ! I Ve been 
 trying to get rid of the time by fishing in the brook, 
 but I have n't caught even a minnow." 
 
 "I think Sunday is a delightful day; I enjoy it 
 exceedingly," said Julius, with a bright smile. 
 
 "You enjoy everything," retorted Martin, almost 
 spitefully, " study, and work, and play." 
 
WILL HE KEEP HIS PROMISE? 67 
 
 " Why should n't I ? With health and all the 
 means for enjoyment, why shouldn't I enjoy myself? 
 Memory of the past sometimes makes me sad, but 
 everything in the present is bright and cheerful." 
 
 " /only pretend to be happy," said Martin ; " down 
 at the very depth of my heart there is constant dis 
 satisfaction. I despise myself." 
 
 "That is a good sign. Why, Martin, you have 
 taken the first step towards becoming wiser and bet 
 ter," replied Julius, cheerily. 
 
 " I am afraid I have n't taken that step yet ; if I 
 were going to be with you longer, I might take it, 
 and keep on in the right road. You do not know the 
 influence you have over others. I may not see you 
 again, Julius, for my father is going to remove to 
 Ohio, and I have left school. I shall be off to-mor 
 row or next day." 
 
 The first emotion with Julius was one of joy that 
 he was no more to be troubled by Martin ; this was 
 immediately followed by a more generous feeling, 
 and he replied : " I am glad if I have exerted any 
 influence over you for good. I find it not so easy to 
 walk in the right path as you suppose. I have to 
 ask aid constantly from my Heavenly Father, and to 
 seek forgiveness through my Saviour, for my many 
 wanderings." 
 
68 I WILL BE A SOLDIER. 
 
 " You speak like a preacher ; I suppose you mean 
 to be one," said Martin. 
 
 "No; I mean to be a soldier," was the frank 
 reply. 
 
 " A soldier ! Are you in earnest ? " 
 
 " Never more so in my life. I have not told my 
 uncle of this intention, but have no doubt I shall 
 have his free consent." 
 
 " I am astonished ! " exclaimed Martin ; " I thought 
 you would consider it wrong to be a soldier." 
 
 "There is nothing in the Book, which you once 
 said I was more familiar with than any other, that 
 condemns soldiers, if they are good ones ; this very 
 day I have heard a sermon on Cornelius the centu 
 rion,"- l a devout man, who feared God, with all his 
 house.' Though a soldier, he ' feared God.' " 
 
 " You are a brave fellow, Julius ; I don't know an 
 other boy in the world who would have dared to 
 have this talk with me ; and perhaps if he had I 
 should have ridiculed him ; but I really respect you, 
 because I know you are sincere, and that your re 
 ligion is not all talk and no deeds. I am sorry to 
 part with you, and hope we may meet again." 
 
 Martin, thus saying, rose and offered his hand to 
 Julius, who sprang up and took the offered hand cor 
 dially. 
 
WILL HE KEEP HIS PROMISE? 69 
 
 " Before we part, Martin," said he, " I want you 
 to promise me three things. One is, that you will 
 not use profane language ; the other, that you will 
 not drink intoxicating liquor; the third, that you 
 will read the Bible, and pray for God's blessing. 
 These three things I promised my dear mother on 
 her dying-bed, and I have never repented my prom 
 ise. In memory of this meeting and parting, Martin, 
 I will give you my own Bible ! " Julius took from 
 his pocket a small Bible beautifully bound ; on the 
 clasp was his own name. 
 
 " Here 's a pencil," said Martin. " Write the three 
 things on the blank leaf of the Bible." 
 
 Julius wrote as he was requested. 
 
 Martin took the book, and, kissing it, said : " I 
 make the resolution solemnly : not to use profane 
 language, not to drink intoxicating liquor; I will 
 read this Bible, and pray for God's blessing. I am 
 thus bound, Julius, till we meet again. Farewell." 
 
 Julius responded with genuine warmth and cor 
 diality, " God bless you, Martin ; I hope, when we 
 meet again, it will be as devoted friends." 
 
70 I WILL BE A SOLDIER. 
 
 CHAPTER XII. 
 
 TOM'S RETURN FROM SCHOOL. 
 
 WE must now pass over two whole years, during 
 which Tom had remained at school, and Julius had 
 continued at Elmlawn. 
 
 The birthday of Julius was again to be celebrated ; 
 not, as before, by a gathering of his schoolfellows 
 upon the lawn. Mr. Roland was to be at home, and 
 Tom was coming from school. 
 
 Just at sunset, on the 5th of June, Tom arrived. 
 He had done with school, and was " fitted for col 
 lege." " Fitted " was he, if colleges are made up 
 of blusterers and bullies, for of such was Tom Ro 
 land. 
 
 " Here, take my trunk, you rascal," was his first 
 salutatory, on reaching home, as the civil waiter stood 
 bowing to the young master. 
 
 " How goes it, Ruth ? Zounds ! you 're most an 
 old maid !" Ruth had rushed out to meet him, over 
 flowing with sisterly affection. 
 
TOM'S RETURN FROM SCHOOL. 71 
 
 " Take care ! With your foolish kisses you just 
 did n't knock my pipe out of my mouth. Jule, how 
 are you? prim as ever ! You 're a whole team, so 
 tall you could look into a two-story window in your 
 stocking-feet," continued Tom, the pipe still in m'g 
 mouth, as he entered the house. 
 
 Yet Julius was not too tall for a boy of sixteen. 
 lie had not outgrown his strength. Constant, vigor 
 ous, healthy exercise had made him muscular, and 
 developed his fine person into the true soldierly 
 type, broad, high shoulders, and full, expanded 
 chest. He was no longer the delicate-looking stu 
 dent, like those who, while " consuming the midnight- 
 oil," are consuming themselves. The sergeant's drill 
 had made him as upright as a young pine-tree, and 
 his movements were as easy as those of the same 
 young tree, when swayed by the wind. His features, 
 in gaining strength, had lost their juvenile beauty, 
 yet his dark hair still waved across a fair, broad fore 
 head, and his mouth, though firm, expressed the 
 gentler emotions. 
 
 Tom had not changed much in appearance during 
 the two years. He might still be called " Roly-poly." 
 His face was more sensual and repulsive than for 
 merly, although the features were not bad ; indeed, 
 
72 1 WILL BE A SOLDIER. 
 
 with a good expression, they might have been called 
 handsome. 
 
 His swaggering air corresponded with his counte 
 nance, and completed the tout ensemble of a self- 
 important, snarling school-boy, who thought himself, 
 and called himself, a man. 
 
 His conversation was patched out with slang 
 phrases, and was mostly on the scrapes he had had 
 with his teachers ; the sprees of horn-blowing, taking 
 off gates, stealing turkeys from the principal, and 
 other " jolly jokes," which were a part of his " fit 
 ting " for college. 
 
 Addressing Julius with a supercilious sneer, Tom 
 said, " I suppose Mr. Farley intends going to col 
 lege. Does he intend to join the same class that I 
 do?" 
 
 " I am not going to college," was the reply. 
 
 " What are you going to do ? Play gentleman 
 here, at my father's expense ! " 
 
 Anger sent a glowing color over the face of Julius, 
 and his voice trembled as he said : " I have lately 
 consulted my uncle about the matter, and he ap 
 proves of my choice of a profession." 
 
 " Huffy! stiffy!" was the muttered exclamation 
 from the insulting Tom. 
 
TOM'S RETURN FROM SCHOOL. 73 
 
 Euth, poor Ruth, was dismayed. She had fondly 
 hoped that her brother would come home with, at 
 least, decent manners. She knew his mind was not 
 of a high order, but supposed he would have pride 
 enough, if nothing else, to act like the son of Mr. 
 Francis Roland ! 
 
 Had not Tom been two years at a celebrated 
 boarding-school? Ruth did not consider that the 
 " twig " was " bent " at home, and had there ac- ' 
 quired a stubborn twist. Schoolmasters are not ac 
 countable for all the crooked sticks that come under 
 their charge. Had not Tom been removed from the 
 bad influence of Martin Hackerty ? There were 
 worse boys in the school than Martin. 
 
 Mr. Roland was expected to arrive at the neigh 
 boring landing by an evening steamboat. The trio 
 waited long after the time for its usual arrival in 
 momentary expectation. Tom at last fell asleep on 
 a sofa. 
 
 It was midnight. A low, rumbling sound was 
 heard. Could it be the carriage which was usually 
 rapidly drawn by the fleet horses ! 
 
 Julius ran to the door with a light ; Ruth, and 
 Tom, aroused from his nap, followed. 
 
 It was the carriage, and its owner was brought 
 4 
 
I WILL BE A SOLDIER. 
 
 Lome. But not alive. He had died suddenly on 
 board the boat, of heart-complaint. 
 
 Iteis impossible to describe the consternation that 
 followed this terrible arrival. 
 
THE BLUSTERER AT HOME. 75 
 
 CHAPTER XIII. 
 
 THE BLUSTERER AT HOME. 
 
 A FEW days after the burial of Mr. Roland the 
 distant relatives who had gathered at Elmlawn for 
 that mournful occasion were assembled with Ruth, 
 Tom, and Julius to hear the reading of the will of 
 the deceased. 
 
 It was very brief. The estate was to be equally 
 divided between his two children. His son was to 
 be the owner of Elmlawn. Julius was not named 
 in the will. It had been well understood that Mr. 
 Roland had adopted the orphan as his son. The 
 will had been made a year before Julius came to 
 reside in his uncle's family. It had been the inten 
 tion of that kind uncle to make another will; but, 
 like many other good intentions, it had been deferred 
 till too late. Too late ! The epitaph for many a 
 procrastinator ! 
 
 No , remarks were made to Julius on the unex 
 pected omission of all provision for his future. Not 
 
76 I WILL BE A SOLDIER. 
 
 even Ruth felt more deeply the loss of the generous 
 head of the family, not even Ruth more tenderly 
 loved him, than did Julius, at this very moment 
 when he was left a penniless orphan. 
 
 Tom soon began to feel his immense importance 
 as the master of Elmlawn, and to exhibit his char 
 acteristic blustering and superciliousness. Occasion 
 ally, he taunted Julius with his dependent condition, 
 but never in the presence of Ruth. 
 
 Julius bore these taunts in silence, but was deeply 
 wounded. 
 
 Ruth had received so violent a shock from the 
 sudden death of her father that she seemed to be in 
 a state of apathy, a numbness such as a heavy 
 blow inflicts upon the body. Yet to Julius she was 
 peculiarly tender and gentle. 
 
 Secretly he was making preparations for a de 
 parture from Elmlawn. He selected such clothing 
 as would be indispensable for a long journey, and 
 placed the remainder of his effects in a large trunk. 
 He did not hesitate to retain whatever his uncle had 
 freely given him. 
 
JULIUS AT THE GRAVE OF MR. ROLAND. Page 77. 
 
COURAGE! COURAGE! 77 
 
 CHAPTER XIV. 
 
 COURAGE! COURAGE! 
 
 IT was a dark but starry evening when Julius left 
 the place which for more than two years had been 
 his pleasant home. His wearing apparel was in the 
 brown-paper parcel he carried under his arm. A 
 letter for Ruth was left on the hall-table. It was 
 blotted with his tears. 
 
 He bent his steps first to the churchyard. By 
 " the pale light of stars," he found his way to the 
 grave of his departed uncle. No superstitious fears 
 assailed the brave boy. He felt that God was there ; 
 God was his Father, " the man of sorrows " his sym 
 pathizing friend. 
 
 He knelt by the grave at that silent, solemn hour, 
 remembered the affectionate kindness of his uncle, 
 and though he shed many tears, not a reproachful 
 thought passed through his mind. 
 
 He knew, for his uncle had told him, the generous 
 intentions that Death had suddenly defeated. 
 
78 I WILL BE A SOLDIER. 
 
 And there lie knelt, fervently thanking God for 
 the past, and asking for future guidance and protec 
 tion. 
 
 He rose from that hallowed spot to go into the 
 wide, untried world alone ; and yet, not alone. 
 Was not his Best Friend still with him ? 
 
 Julius now walked rapidly towards the humble 
 home of his friend, Sergeant Moses. 
 
 There was no light in the cottage. As Julius 
 stood before the open door, the sweet, plaintive voice 
 of Nannie came to his ear. She was reading the 
 twenty-third Psalm : 
 
 " The Lord is my Shepherd ; I shall not want. 
 
 " He maketh me to lie down in green pastures ; he 
 leadeth me beside the still waters. 
 
 " He restore th my soul ; he leadeth me in the 
 paths of righteousness for his name's sake. 
 
 "Yea, though I walk through the valley of the 
 shadow of death I will fear no evil, for thou art with 
 me ; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me." 
 
 Nannie stopped suddenly. 
 
 " Grandfather," said she, " there is spine one on 
 the door-step." 
 
 " Are you quite sure, darling ? " 
 
 " Quite sure ; I heard a sigh. I think it is Master 
 Julius, for he often sighs." 
 
COURAGE! COURAGE! 79 
 
 "It is I; Sergeant, shall I come in?" asked 
 Julius. 
 
 " Yes, and welcome ; I '11 strike a light," was the 
 quick reply ; and soon the candle was lighted, and 
 there was little blind Nannie, with the hig book on 
 her lap and her finger on the word she had last read. 
 
 The Sergeant, after giving him a hearty grasp of 
 the hand, said : " Sit you down, my lad ; I am right 
 glad to see you again." 
 
 This was their first interview since the death of 
 Mr. Roland, and the affectionate sympathy of the 
 honest soldier, and little Nannie, was soothing to the 
 heart of the desolate boy. 
 
 " But what does this big bundle mean ? " inquired 
 the old soldier. 
 
 " I have left Elmlawn forever. I must start in 
 life as you did, my good friend, and depend upon 
 myself." 
 
 "That's right!" cried the Sergeant, who had 
 heard of the disposition of Mr. Roland's property ; 
 " but I hope you mean to be a soldier." 
 
 " To be sure I do ; after all the drilling you have 
 given me, it would n't be fair for me to change my 
 mind." 
 
 " No indeed it would not ; you Ve learned to 
 
80 I WILL BE A SOLDIER. 
 
 handle a musket and bagonet like a veteran ; you are 
 a swimmer, a capital rider, a first-rate marksman, 
 and as strong as a young Harcules. You would obey 
 your commander too, for you have always obeyed 
 old Sergeant Moses." 
 
 " You are very kind to say such encouraging 
 things," said Julius. " My uncle approved of my 
 choice, and I am now on my way to Washington to 
 ask for an appointment at West Point." 
 
 "West Point? Hurrah for West Point!" ex 
 claimed the old man. " You '11 make a first-rate 
 officer ; you '11 be a gineral, like my old ginerals, 
 Scott and Jackson." 
 
 " If I first make a sergeant as good as vourself I 
 shall be thankful," replied Julius, warmly. 
 
 " Ah, my lad, I should have been promoted from 
 the ranks, and been Captain Mullerkin, if it had not 
 been for this stump. Stand by the old Stars and 
 Stripes ; and if the time comes, which God forbid ! 
 there shall be an attempt to divide this glorious 
 Union, fight for your country, your whole country. 
 God made it one, not to be broken in pieces any 
 more than yonder sword-blade." 
 
 " I will keep your words in my heart," replied 
 Julius, earnestly. " I must leave you now. I thank 
 
COURAGE! COURAGE! 81 
 
 you for all you have done for me, and for your con 
 stant kindness." 
 
 " Thank me, my lad ! Have n't you taught my 
 poor Nannie to read, and given her all them queer 
 books that the darling's little fingers can read ? I 
 have saved up my money to send her to the 'Sylum, 
 and now there 's no need of it." 
 
 " O, you 've been so kind to grandfather and 
 me ! " cried little Nannie, who had been an attentive 
 listener ; " what shall we do without Master Julius ? " 
 
 " There 's a question I would like to ask," said the 
 kind-hearted old soldier. " It costs a deal of money 
 to go to Washington." 
 
 " My good uncle gave me a monthly allowance of 
 pocket-money ; I have no wants, and had saved it 
 to buy a set of British Poets. I have paid for my 
 mourning-suit, and have some money left." 
 
 " Here, take this old leather purse as a keepsake," 
 said the Sergeant, thrusting into Julius's hand the 
 purse, which seemed well filled with coin. 
 
 " No, thank you, I cannot take it ; indeed I can 
 not." 
 
 " I 've got a whole half-dollar, you '11 take that, 
 won't you ? " said Nannie, entreatingly. 
 
 " No, dear Nannie, you must excuse me. I must 
 
 4* F 
 
82 I WILL BE A SOLDIER. 
 
 say good-by, or I shall be too late for the steam 
 boat." 
 
 " But you will take my old knapsack.. I shall 
 never need it again. Here, let me put your bundle 
 into it," cried the ergeant, taking down a stout 
 leather knapsack from its accustomed place. 
 
 " Thank you ; I will accept that gratefully." 
 
 So the old soldier strapped the knapsack on 
 Julius's shoulders, saying : " First, your duty to God 
 and then to your country. I have left you my sword 
 and musket, and a few other traps, in my will. If 
 you ever have a chance, I know you will be kind to 
 my poor Nannie, when the old sergeant is under the 
 sod." 
 
 Julius wrung the hand of the old soldier without 
 being able to say a word, the big tears rolling down 
 his cheeks. 
 
 Nannie, sobbing, kissed him " Good-by," and Ju 
 lius hastened with all speed towards the landing. 
 The steamer was just putting off when he sprang 
 from the dock upon the deck. 
 
THE RESCUE. 83 
 
 CHAPTER XV. 
 
 THE RESCUE. 
 
 JULIUS seated himself on the upper deck, near the 
 stern of the steamer, with his knapsack on his back. 
 It was nine o'clock ; the sky was cloudless, and the 
 stars were brilliantly reflected in the smooth water. 
 
 The deck was crowded with passengers. Near 
 Julius were seated two, who seemed to be father 
 and daughter. 
 
 About ten o'clock, the gentleman said to the 
 young girl, " Is it not time for you to retire, Mary ? " 
 
 The name struck pleasantly on the ear of Julius : 
 It was his mother's name, a hallowed name to 
 thousands ! 
 
 " Not yet, if you please, papa ; the night is very 
 beautiful, and it is quite warm in the ladies' cabin," 
 was the reply. A short conversation followed, and 
 then the gentleman said : u I will go and see that our 
 luggage is all together. Stay where you are till I 
 return." 
 
84 I WILL BE A SOLDIER. 
 
 He had not been absent long when a dense smoke 
 was seen rising through the open staircase to the 
 upper deck, and fearful yells of " Fire ! fire ! " 
 caused a rush of the passengers to the lower deck. 
 
 The young girl started up to join the throng. 
 
 " You will be crushed among the crowd," cried 
 Julius, detaining her. " Your father requested you 
 to remain here." 
 
 "My father! my father!" shrieked the terrified 
 girl. 
 
 " Take courage ! We are beyond the Palisades, 
 and nearing the shore." 
 
 At that moment the engine stopped. 
 
 Very few passengers were remaining on the upper 
 deck ; they had rushed below at the first alarm. 
 
 The wind descended with a wafture and a swoop, 
 and soon the stairway was on fire, and then the awn 
 ing and upper deck. There was not an instant for 
 delay. The fierce flames were reaching towards 
 them, and burning masses falling around them. 
 
 Julius seized a rope which had been attached to 
 the awning, fastened it to the railing at the stern, and 
 tied a large knot at the other end of the rope. 
 
 " We must drop into the water. Don't be fright 
 ened, Mary ; I can swim." As he said this, he drew 
 off his boots with surprising coolness. 
 
THE RESCUE. 85 
 
 " 0, I am afraid ! I am afraid ! " was the agonized 
 cry from the poor girl. 
 
 " There is no other way of escape ! " exclaimed 
 Julius. 
 
 As he said this a man sprang over the railing } 
 seized the rope and slid down. The blazing awning 
 fell just as Julius helped Mary over the railing. 
 " Keep hold of the rope," he said, and slid down, 
 holding fast to her dress. When they reached the 
 end of the rope, they were within a few feet of the 
 water. 
 
 The rapid motion down the rope almost deprived 
 them of breath ; in a second, Julius, recovering, said : 
 " Don't be frightened. When we drop into the 
 water, we shall go under and rise again ; I will not 
 lose my hold of you, and I can swim with you 
 ashore." 
 
 " Oh ! I shall be drowned ! " shrieked the poor 
 girl. " O God, save me ! " 
 
 Julius responded earnestly to the petition as they 
 dropped into the river. They went down, but rose 
 immediately, Julius still holding firmly by Mary's 
 dress. The distance was short to the shore, and 
 Julius, an expert swimmer, reached it with his com 
 panion in safety. 
 
86 I WILL BE A SOLDIER. 
 
 As soon as Mary could speak she rnuriniired, 
 " My father ! my father ! " 
 
 Faint as were the words, they met the ear of her 
 father. Finding it impossible to reach the upper 
 deck, he jumped overboard, swam ashore, and now 
 stood beside her. He lifted her from the beach, 
 where she lay almost fainting. 
 
 " Thank God, you are safe, my dear child ! I never 
 expected to see you again," said he, as she clung to 
 his neck, and laid her hand on his shoulder. 
 
 Meantime, Julius seeing a man nearly exhausted, 
 just reaching the shore, dashed in to help him. This 
 was easily accomplished. But when he looked 
 around for the father and daughter, they were not 
 where he left them. 
 
 The burning vessel cast a lurid light on the gently- 
 flowing river and on the quiet landscape. 
 
 By this light Julius searched among the excited 
 crowd assembled on the shore for Mary and her 
 father, in vain ; they had disappeared. 
 
 Dripping with water, his light summer clothing 
 clinging to him, without hat or boots, Julius stood 
 among the crowd unnoticed. He trembled, but, as 
 the old Doge of Venice said, "not with fear"; the 
 brave boy had not lost " one jot of heart or hope." 
 
THE RESCUE. 87 
 
 He was safe; he had been enabled to save others; 
 they had not thanked him, but he thanked God. 
 
 Though it was the last of June, the night was cool ; 
 he shivered, and a chill ran through every vein. To 
 bring back warmth to his frame, he started and ran 
 till he came to a large barn, to which he found ready 
 entrance. The old knapsack ! How he blessed Ser 
 geant Moses for having strapped it upon his shoul 
 ders ! On opening it he found that the water had not 
 penetrated to the contents. The first thing that he 
 placed his hand upon was his mother's Bible. He 
 had put it up among the few articles selected as ne 
 cessary for his journey. He raised the Bible to his 
 lips, and remembered the last sacred words he had 
 heard read by blind Nannie: "Though I walk through 
 the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil ; 
 for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they 
 comfort me." Having changed his wet garments for 
 dry clothing, he lay down among the hay and slept 
 soundly till late in the morning. 
 
 The barn was merely used for storing hay and 
 grain, and no one came to disturb his slumbers. 
 
 Vigorous as though he had only taken a bath in 
 the river, Julius rose from his long sleep, put the now 
 dry clothing he had taken off while wet into his 
 
88 I WILL BE A SOLDIER. 
 
 knapsack, and strapped that invaluable knapsack 
 upon his shoulders. He was obliged to walk in his 
 stockings, and in lieu of a hat a handkerchief covered 
 his head. 
 
 But these deficiencies he soon remedied, on reach 
 ing the village, by the purchase of a cloth cap and a 
 stout pair of boots. 
 
 He breakfasted at the only "tavern" in the vil 
 lage ; there he hoped to find the gentleman and his 
 daughter Mary. He described them to a number of 
 persons, but could hear nothing of them, 
 
 Soon after breakfast Julius started on foot for 
 New York. 
 
FORWARD, MARCH ! 89 
 
 CHAPTER XVI. 
 
 FORWARD, MARCH! 
 
 WITH his knapsack on his back, " marching on," 
 Julius felt more like a soldier than ever before, 
 though his full suit of black was not exactly the uni 
 form for any but an officer of the Church militant. 
 
 Numerous were the inquiries made of him on his 
 march to the city. Though much defaced, the old 
 knapsack still showed the U. S. A. upon it, and ex 
 cited curiosity. The country folks were very civil 
 and sympathizing when they learnt that he had es 
 caped from the burning steamboat. But when he 
 had crossed the Jersey Ferry, and walked up Cort- 
 land Street to Broadway, it was quite another thing. 
 
 A troop of boys followed him ; one cried out : 
 " Corporal, what regiment do you belong to ? " 
 
 " The black regiment," yelled another. 
 
 " He looks like a gemman," said a third ; " but I 
 guess he cribbed his coat and trowsers in one place, 
 and the old leather thing in another." 
 
90 I WILL BE A SOLDIER. 
 
 " Forward, march ! " shouted several ; " shoulder, 
 now ! " 
 
 It was our young hero's first visit to New York. 
 He had not expected a public reception, though much 
 less deserving heroes have received ovations. 
 
 Julius was glad to take refuge from the "saucy, 
 ragged, and dirty " mob at his heels, in the first hotel 
 which he reached. It was the House. 
 
 The porter roughly accosted him : " We don't en 
 tertain travellers with packs on their backs." 
 
 " Direct me to the hotel-keeper," said Julius. 
 
 " There you 're green. We call him proprietor " ; 
 so saying, the impertinent porter turned on his heel 
 and left Julius standing on the steps. 
 
 Rising anger prompted Julius to hasten the porter 
 down the steps by a scientific thrust learnt in boxing, 
 but he forbore. 
 
 " What is it you wish, my lad ? " said a gentleman 
 who was just coming out of the hotel. 
 
 " I wish to speak to the proprietor," was the prompt 
 reply. 
 
 " I have heard that voice before," said the gentle 
 man. 
 
 " Yes, it must be the same ; I shall never forget 
 it. Come in ; I will take you to the proprietor." 
 
FORWARD, MARCH! 91 
 
 They entered the gentlemen's parlor. 
 
 " I cannot be mistaken," said the stranger ; " you are 
 the young man who fastened the rope by which I 
 safely reached the water; you aided me to land, on 
 that terrible night when I might have perished with 
 out your assistance. You were not in the same 
 dress then, but the voice is the same, and so is the 
 old knapsack. Can I do anything to serve you ? " 
 
 " Thank you, sir ; I am not in need of anything at 
 present but my supper, a night's lodging, and a 
 breakfast to-morrow morning; for them I shall call 
 upon the hotel-keeper," said Julius. 
 
 " And allow me to pay the bill," said the stranger. 
 
 "Certainly not," replied Julius; "my porte-mon- 
 naie was safe in my pocket when I swam ashore." 
 
 "I wish mine had been as safe. I lost all my 
 luggage, everything, indeed, but some change in my 
 purse. Friends in New York have supplied me 
 with means till I reach home. I am sorry that our 
 interview should be so brief; I leave almost imme 
 diately. I will take you to the clerk, and have 
 your name entered on the book." 
 
 Julius wrote his name ; but where to give his ad 
 dress was the question : he had no home. He was 
 
 obliged to give County, N. Y., the place from 
 
 whence he started. 
 
92 I WILL BE A SOLDIER. 
 
 The gentleman handed him his card, saying he 
 hoped it might be in his power at some future day 
 to render him a service. " Major John Hillsale, 
 U. S. A.," was upon the card. 
 
 " I, too, will be a soldier," exclaimed Julius, as he 
 read the card. 
 
 " And a brave one," added the Major. " You are 
 just the one to be an honor to the army; but you 
 don't intend to enlist as a private soldier ? " 
 
 " No, sir ; I am going to West Point, if I can get 
 the appointment." 
 
 At this moment the porter cried, " Baggage" for 
 Philadelphia," and the Major left, after bidding Ju 
 lius a hearty " Farewell." 
 
 Julius slept 'just as well in his room on noisy 
 Broadway as he did in the quiet barn upon the fresh 
 hay. Health and a good conscience are powerful 
 incitements to sleep. 
 
 After breakfast, when he went to pay his bill 
 at the clerk's office, he found it had already been 
 settled. At first his pride revolted at it; he was 
 really angry for a moment ; then he reflected that 
 this was the only way that Major Hillsale could find 
 to testify his gratitude, and he forgave him. To 
 husband his own small funds, he must find the cheap- 
 
FORWARD, MARCH! 93 
 
 est conveyance to Washington, and, notwithstanding 
 the recent disaster on the water, he took passage in a 
 schooner to Baltimore. 
 
 He arrived there safely, and from that place 
 walked to Washington. His transit from New York 
 to the Capital occupied a whole week. 
 
94 I WILL BE A SOLDIER. 
 
 CHAPTER XVII. 
 
 BELL-RINGING. 
 
 IT was near the close of a long session of Congress. 
 The members were in haste to be home, and over 
 whelmed with the crowd of business matters still on 
 hand. 
 
 Julius sent his luggage by a small boy to a hotel. 
 His experience in New York was sufficient to deter 
 him from marching with the U. S. A. upon his back. 
 
 His first inquiry, after he had taken lodgings at 
 
 the hotel, was for the member from County, 
 
 New York. He found no difficulty in learning 
 "his place of residence. It was a large house on 
 Street. 
 
 With a beating heart, he rang at the door of the 
 honorable member. 
 
 " Not at home," was the answer to his eager in 
 quiry. The young stranger wandered about the 
 " city of magnificent distances," feeling exceedingly 
 solitary, and yet with an emotion of mingled pride 
 and patriotism that was a pleasurable excitement. 
 
BELL-RINGING. 95 
 
 This, then, was the Capitol. This was the splen 
 did dome, the picture of which he had often seen. 
 He ascended those flights of steps, and surveyed the 
 beautiful prospect. He found his way to the gallery 
 of the Senate Chamber, to see the venerable men 
 there assembled, and listen to their wisdom and elo 
 quence. 
 
 The deep, solemn voice of the immortal Webster 
 sounded through that Senate Chamber like the voice 
 of a prophet of old, as he pronounced words of warn 
 ing similar to those he uttered on another occasion : 
 
 " Let our object be our country, our whole coun 
 try, and nothing but our country. And, by the bless 
 ing of God, may that country itself become a vast 
 and splendid monument, not of oppression and terror, 
 but of wisdom, of peace, and of liberty, upon which 
 the world may gaze with admiration forever." 
 
 While the voice of the eloquent speaker thrilled 
 every nerve of the enthusiastic young listener, he too 
 would be a statesman. It was but momentary. His 
 generous devotion to his country must be upon " the 
 tented field." In imagination the young hero wield 
 ed the sword in defence of that " whole country." 
 
 From the Senate Chamber Julius went to the 
 House of Representatives. He was struck with the 
 
96 I WILL BE A SOLDIER. 
 
 want of dignity in the air of the House. They were 
 wrangling about some bill which he did not under 
 stand. 
 
 Soon after the Representatives left the hall, and 
 Julius hastened to the house of the member from 
 New York, and rang again at the door. 
 
 " The gentleman is engaged ; cannot see you," was 
 the word from the waiter. 
 
 Disappointed, Julius returned to the hotel, where 
 he remained unnoticed by the hundreds who were 
 there congregated. 
 
 His calls on the honorable member were several 
 times repeated, with the same disheartening result. 
 
 At the end of a week, his hotel bill was sent in. 
 Whether this was the usual custom of the place or 
 not Julius did not know. He paid the bill, and had 
 but a single dollar remaining in his purse. 
 
 The succeeding morning he determined to make 
 one more desperate effort ; and, for that purpose, 
 went to the house of the member at an early hour. 
 
 " The gentleman is at breakfast," said the civil 
 waiter. " You had better send in your card." 
 
 Julius was obliged to confess that he had no card. 
 
 " Flease say to the gentleman that Julius Farley 
 begs for a few minutes conversation with him on 
 urgent business." 
 
BELL-RINGING. 97 
 
 The waiter, civil as he was, left the young stranger 
 standing on the doorstep, and closed the door. It 
 was a moment of extreme anxiety to Julius. His 
 courage was about to falter. The tears would come, 
 but were indignantly dashed away. 
 
 The waiter returned, saying the gentleman would 
 see him. The honorable member from New York 
 was seated at the breakfast-table with a number of 
 ladies and gentlemen. 
 
 The brave boy who had shown such courage and 
 presence of mind in extreme danger, now stood dang 
 ling his cap in his hand, not daring to lift his eyes 
 from the carpet. 
 
 " Make known your business, boy ; I have very 
 little time to spare," was the curt address of the 
 member. 
 
 " I came to solicit the appointment to the West 
 Point Military Academy that you, sir, can give me," 
 stammered out Julius. 
 
 " A bold request. Have you brought letters of 
 introduction or recommendation ? " 
 
 " I have not." 
 
 " What claims have you, then, upon me for this 
 appointment ? " 
 
 " None, except my ardent desire to serve my 
 
98 I WILL BE A SOLDIER. 
 
 country as a soldier," replied Julius, gaining as 
 surance, his eye kindling with enthusiasm, and his 
 voice becoming firm and clear. 
 
 " What reference can you give with respect to 
 your qualifications for the position you seek ? I am 
 but an agent of the Government, and ought not to 
 bestow its favors on the undeserving." As the 
 member said this, he resumed his breakfast. 
 
 " I am alone in the world. There was no one of 
 whom I could ask a letter of introduction. I have a 
 testimonial from the principal of the school that I 
 attended for two years, but unfortunately it got wet 
 in my pocket, and is scarcely legible." 
 
 " It is he, I am sure it is ! " whispered some one 
 at the table. 
 
 " Produce your testimonial," said the member. 
 
 Julius drew from his pocket a soiled, blotted paper, 
 and handed it to him. 
 
 The principal had testified that Julius Farley had 
 taken the highest honor in his school of thirty boys, 
 being No. 1 in Mathematics ; No. 1 in Natural Phi 
 losophy ; No. 2 in Latin and Greek ; No. 1 in 
 Modern Languages ; No. 1 in English Studies ; but, 
 alas! the testimonial was so blotted and blurred, 
 that the member had not patience to decipher it, and 
 
BELL-KINGING. 99 
 
 handed it back, saying he could make nothing of it. 
 Then, with a formal bow, and a wave of the hand 
 towards the door, the member said, " Good morn 
 ing." There had been during the interview a whis 
 pered conversation among the persons at table. A 
 gentleman now started up, saying, " Please let me 
 look at that paper." 
 
 He had no sooner cast his eye upon it than he 
 exclaimed, "Julius Farley! the very same !" and 
 seizing Julius around the shoulders, he gave him a 
 genuine hug, as he said : " You saved my Mary 
 from both fire and water ; God bless you ! Come, 
 Mary, and thank your brave deliverer." 
 
 The young girl came forward shyly, "reddened 
 like a rose, sine pale as ony lily," as she gave her 
 hand to Julius, without uttering a word. The mem 
 ory of that awful night was vividly before her mind, 
 and tears were rolling from those sweet blue eyes 
 like a summer shower. 
 
 " Mr. Leonardson," said the member, " I must ask 
 an explanation another time. Urgent business calls 
 me away. If you have done breakfast, you can, if you 
 please, adjourn to the parlor with your young friend." 
 
 When Mr. Leonardson, his daughter, and Julius 
 were seated in the parlor, Mr. Leonardson said: 
 
100 I WILL BE A SOLDIER. 
 
 " How strange, how ungrateful it must have seemed 
 to you that I should have left you on that terrible 
 night, when you had saved my Mary from a horrible 
 death." 
 
 "I supposed that we were accidentally separated 
 in that confused throng upon the shore," replied 
 Julius. 
 
 "It was so. I knew not by what name to call 
 you, and I looked for you in vain. Mary lay faint 
 ing in my arms. A gentleman who, providentially, 
 was passing in his carriage near the place where the 
 unfortunate steamer was on fire, came to offer assist 
 ance to passengers who had escaped, and took Mary 
 and myself to his own home, not far distant. 
 
 " After a day of rest and refreshment with our kind 
 host, I went the next morning to the neighboring 
 village to inquire after you, and called at the ' tav 
 ern.' I gave the description of you as Mary gave it 
 to me, ' Dressed in a suit of light summer clothing, 
 apparently about sixteen or seventeen, decided and 
 manly.' A young person answering that description, 
 excepting that he wore a full suit of black, had 
 breakfasted there, and left on foot ; they did not know 
 what road he had taken. Just as I was about to 
 leave, hopeless of finding you, a stage-coach drove up 
 
BELL-RINGING. 101 
 
 to the door, and out of it stepped an old man, dressed 
 in a faded United States uniform " 
 
 "My dear old friend, Sergeant Moses!" shouted 
 Julius. 
 
 " The very same. As he alighted with some diffi 
 culty, I saw that he had lost his left hand. He had 
 hardly touched the ground before he exclaimed, 
 ' Has any one of you seen my Julius Farley ? ' 
 
 " I gave the description of the person for whom I 
 was seeking, and he eagerly asked, ( Had he a 
 knapsack on his back ? ' 
 
 " * O yes ; I remember now. Mary mentioned that 
 knapsack particularly. He saved my daughter from 
 an awful death.' 
 
 " ' It was my boy ! Where is he ? ' exclaimed the 
 old soldier. < Where is he ? ' 
 
 "When told that he had gone away on foot, the 
 old soldier wiped his eyes, but they were tears of 
 
 joy- 
 
 " ' He 's on his march to Washington,' said he ; 
 * he 's true grit. He '11 be a gineral.' 
 
 "I took the nice old fellow into the tavern, and 
 offered him something to drink. He thanked me, 
 but said he never drank anything but * Adam's ale.' 
 He then told me why you were going to Washing- 
 
102 I WILL BE A SOLDIER. 
 
 ton. I informed him that I was going there myself 
 as soon as I could get refitted with clothing for my 
 self and Mary in New York. The soldier took from 
 his pocket a leather purse, and offered it to me, say- 
 .ing, 'Give this to Julius Farley, twenty dollars 
 and a half; tell him the half-dollar was little 
 Nannie's. He may want money by this time.' I 
 declined taking it, telling him I might not meet you. 
 He then begged me, if I found you, to say the money 
 was yours whenever you would send for it." 
 
 " He is a noble old soul ! " said Julius. 
 
 " Pardon me for asking the question : Have you 
 needed it ? " added Mr. Leonardson. 
 
 Julius could say with truth that he had not. How 
 soon he might, he did not say. 
 
 " Allow me to be your banker whenever your own 
 banker is not at hand," said Mr. Leonardson. " I owe 
 you more than gold can pay ; you have made friends 
 in Mary and myself for life. I am most fortunate in 
 meeting you here at my friend's house, where I ar 
 rived last evening. Leave this testimonial with me ; 
 I will have it copied by a person accustomed to de 
 cipher illegible writing. Give yourself no uneasiness 
 about the appointment. I think I can safely prom 
 ise that you shall have it. Call to-morrow, at 
 
BELL-RINGING. 103 
 
 my lodgings. I am only here this morning as a 
 guest to my friend." 
 
 Mary shook hands with Julius at parting. " My 
 father must say for me what I cannot express my 
 self," were the only words she could utter. 
 
104 I WILL BE A SOLDIER. 
 
 CHAPTER XVIII. 
 
 FORTUNE FAVORS THE BRAVE. 
 
 FORTUNE favors the brave ! True ; if we substi 
 tute a more Christian name for the Power that favors 
 the brave. Causes and effects are indissolubly united 
 in the moral as well as the physical world : God's 
 providence is over all. 
 
 The bravery of Julius was shown in leaving Elm- 
 lawn to seek the appointment at Washington. Next, 
 he showed courage and presence of mind on board the 
 burning steamer ; then, determination in making his 
 way to the Capital. Had he seated himself by the 
 wayside, and given up with a " Boohoo ! I can never 
 succeed ! " what would have been the consequence ? 
 
 Again, there was boldness and persistency in his 
 application to the honorable member. 
 
 " Be firm ! One common element in luck 
 Is genuine, solid, old Teutonic pluck," 
 
 His last dollar was in his pocket, yet Julius walked 
 away from the house, when he had parted with Mr. 
 
FORTUNE FAVORS THE BRAVE. 105 
 
 Leonardson, full of 'gratitude and hope. He held up 
 his head, and walked off like the soldier he was 
 to be. 
 
 At the appointed hour, Julius, with a beating heart, 
 asked for Mr. Leonardson, at the hotel he had named. 
 
 That gentleman came in with a face so bright and 
 cheery as to dispel every doubt from the mind of 
 Julius, even before he spoke. 
 
 " You have it ! you have it ! " he exclaimed. " 1 
 could not be more rejoiced at your success if you 
 were my own son. Now don't thank me, my boy ; 
 you have won it for yourself; the member is fully sat 
 isfied that you deserve the appointment." 
 
 "And yet I must thank you a thousand times," 
 said Julius, looking towards the door, hoping to thank 
 one other person. That other person did not appear. 
 
 I have a small souvenir for you from Mary," Mr. 
 Leonardson said, as he gave Julius a gold seal with a 
 stone on which was engraven, " Gratitude." 
 
 " Let me hear from you from time to time," con 
 tinued Mr. Leonardson ; " and the first furlough you 
 have, come and make us a visit. I will give you my 
 address." 
 
 " If I am able to pass my examination, you will be 
 the first to be informed of it." Julius then took leave. 
 
 5* 
 
106 I WILL BE A SOLDIER. 
 
 As he was passing the post-office, it occurred to him 
 that there was a possibility of his having a letter from 
 Ruth. His mind had been so occupied with the one 
 object he had in view, that he had not before thought 
 to inquire. It was even so ; Ruth had not neglected 
 him, as the following letter will testify. 
 
 " MR. JULIUS FARLEY, Washington, D. C. : 
 
 " Elmlawh, July , 18. 
 
 " How could you leave us so suddenly, my dear 
 cousin, without giving me the opportunity to say fare 
 well ! I will not reproach you, however, for you were 
 so kind as to inform me, in the letter you left, of 
 your destination and your purpose in going to Wash 
 ington. 
 
 "Three days after your departure, my eyes were 
 wandering carelessly over the morning paper, when 
 my attention was arrested by an account of the fear 
 ful disaster that had befallen the steamboat , on 
 
 the Hudson. 
 
 "I knew you must have embarked on that very 
 boat ! The names of the passengers saved were giv 
 en, but yours was not there. My eyes grew dim, I 
 could scarcely read on ; but I did so, and through 
 toars T read the account of a brave boy, ' the name 
 
FORTUNE FAVORS THE BRAVE. 107 
 
 unknown/ who saved the life of a young lady, and 
 then aided a man who was struggling to reach the 
 shore. My heart told me the brave boy was my own 
 cousin Julius. 
 
 "Why did you not come back to me after that 
 dreadful disaster ? I fear you may have suffered in 
 many ways since. I enclose fifty dollars. It is 
 rightfully yours. Am I not in place of the depart 
 ed one? He would have it so. Call upon me for 
 whatever you need. 
 
 " Elmlawn is left to me desolate. My brother has 
 gone to New Haven to enter Yale College. 
 
 " O my dear Julius ! sorrows on sorrows darken 
 my path ; at times I cannot see the 4 silver lining ' 
 of the cloud that hangs over me. I cannot yet 
 be reconciled to my grievous loss. Pray for me ! 
 Pray for me ! 
 
 " Devotedly, your cousin, 
 
 RUTH. 
 
 " P. S. Thomas has just returned home. He 
 could not pass the examination, and was rejected." 
 
108 I WILL BE A SOLDIER. 
 
 JULIUS'S LETTER, IN REPLY. 
 
 " Washington, July , 18. 
 
 u Mi 1 DEAR RUTH : Your very kind letter, with its 
 enclosure, is just received. 
 
 " I was not so imprudent as to leave Elmlawn with 
 out money, and the prospect of a future supply ; but 
 just now your generous offer I accept as a loan. Do 
 not call me proud, my own dear cousin. There is no 
 person in the world from whom I would so soon ac 
 cept a favor as from yourself; but there are reasons 
 why I cannot accept your enclosure as a gift. 
 
 "Just before I left Elmlawn, I received a letter 
 from the executor of my mother's estate. He in 
 formed me that the house and grounds belonging to 
 it, which had been for several years unoccupied, he 
 had rented at last for a good price, and that, after a 
 certain time, which he named, I might expect to 
 receive two or three hundred dollars a year. The 
 house is the one in which I was born, and in which 
 my dear mother passed her last days on earth. Of 
 course, I was most thankful that it had been saved 
 from the wreck of the estate. You see, then, dear 
 Ruth, that I am amply provided for, if I can pass my 
 examination at West Point. I have the appoint 
 ment, and will tell you all about it, though it is a long 
 story." 
 
FORTUNE FAVORS THE BRAVE. 109 
 
 Here Julius gave a full account of the burning of 
 the steamboat, his journey to Washington, his ap 
 plication for the appointment, and his final success, 
 through the influence of Mr. Leonardson. 
 
 " Forgive me for leaving you without saying ' Fare 
 well.' There were reasons why it would have been 
 trying to us both. And now, my dear Ruth, let us 
 thank God for the past, and trust him for the future. 
 I am sorry for Tom's disappointment. Tell him to 
 renew his studies, and try again. 
 
 "With unbounded affection, dear Cousin Euth, 
 " Ever yours, 
 
 " JULIUS FARLEY." 
 
110 I WILL BE A SOLDIER. 
 
 CHAPTER XIX. 
 
 WEST POINT. 
 
 WEST POINT ! That lovely spot, hallowed by a 
 thousand historical associations, who that has ever 
 seen it can fail to cherish it in memory! Nature 
 has been lavish in adorning it, and Art has been 
 summoned efficiently to her aid. The beautiful pa 
 rade-ground, level as the floor of a church, dotted 
 with showy tents; the surrounding buildings peer 
 ing out from among trees of luxuriant growth ; 
 among the quiet, innocent-looking grass, dark tokens 
 of war, cannons captured from enemies in far-off 
 fields, cannons ready for future enemies, pyramids 
 of cannon-balls, Cadets at their evening parade, 
 with an inspiriting band of music ; such was the 
 scene on which the eye of Julius rested with delight. 
 
 He had sent his luggage to the hotel (the beloved 
 knapsack was in his trunk), walked up the winding 
 way to the hill-top, and now stood watching the 
 exercise of the Cadets. 
 
WEST POINT. Ill 
 
 A sudden slap on the shoulder gave him a start, 
 and made him turn, and look in the face of Martin 
 Hackerty. 
 
 " How are you, old fellow ? Glad to see you ! " 
 was Martin's hearty salutation. 
 
 Julius replied cordially to the greeting. It was a 
 relief, among entire strangers, to see a familiar face. 
 That face had wonderfully improved since the parting 
 of Martin and Julius. 
 
 " How do you happen to be here, Martin ? " 
 
 " I happen here just as you do, with malice afore 
 thought. I, too, will be a soldier," said Martin, 
 laughing, and giving Julius another rousing thump on 
 the back. 
 
 " Don't beat the fact into me ; I believe it on your 
 assertion. When did you form this resolution ? " 
 
 " The very moment that you told me of your own, 
 and I have never wavered from it since, any more 
 than yonder rocks have wavered at the roar of all the 
 guns that have been fired on this hill." 
 
 " And have you kept the other resolutions you 
 then made as firmly? " inquired Julius, anxiously. 
 
 "I have; excepting when some forbidden words 
 from old habit would slip out without my will now 
 and then. I don't drink, excepting wine in company, 
 have read your Bible, but am not an out and out 
 
112 I WILL BE A SOLDIER. 
 
 Christian. I think, however, that I may claim your 
 promise. When we met, if I kept the resolutions, 
 we were to be devoted friends. Here 's my hand, and 
 my heart too ; for better for worse, I am your fides 
 Achates" 
 
 There was no resisting the genial advances of 
 Martin. Julius grasped the offered hand, saying, 
 " Thank you, Martin ; I trust we shall both be the 
 * better,' and not the ' worse/ for this alliance." 
 
 The friends then walked off together, arm in arm, 
 to the hotel. 
 
 The nature of Julius was keenly susceptible to 
 mirth and joyousness. Deep as was the undercur 
 rent of sadness, yet sparkling and bright was the sur 
 face. He had early been pressed down by a burden 
 of care and trouble too heavy for his young shoul 
 ders, and now his spirits rose with a rebound. 
 
 Martin was two years older than Julius. There 
 was a buoyancy in his step and an airiness in his 
 whole appearance, that manifested, unmistakably, the 
 gay young fellow. His clear blue eye was such as 
 is often seen with a ruddy complexion and hair just 
 not red. A winning smile displayed a fine set of 
 teeth, and his address was pleasing. On the way to 
 the hotel he informed Julius that he had been 
 several days at West Point, and had made acquaint- 
 
WEST POINT. 113 
 
 ance with several fine fellows, whom he had invited 
 to take supper with him that evening. He told him 
 that he had been living in Ohio, and received his ap 
 pointment from a member of Congress from that 
 State. Julius did not doubt, from the improvement 
 in Martin's character, that he had been under good 
 influences. 
 
 At the supper-party, amid a set of lively young 
 fellows, the natural mirthfulness of Julius overflowed, 
 and even Martin was surprised at his friend's fine so 
 cial qualities. The evening passed on for a while in 
 innocent hilarity, but gradually grew more and more 
 jovial. The wine circulated freely. It was not wine 
 that Julius was never to taste ! It was not wine that 
 Martin had resolved not to touch ! An oath now and 
 then fell upon the ear of- Julius unheeded. Martin 
 returned to his old habit, and became awfully profane. 
 
 Far into the night the revels proceeded. Alas! 
 the young revellers knew not when they passed the 
 line beyond which the will and the conscience have 
 no control, where the human being becomes as de 
 void of reason as the brute beast. They were fear 
 fully intoxicated ; not one of them sober enough to 
 find the way to his room without the aid of the 
 waiters. 
 
114 I WILL BE A SOLDIER. 
 
 CHAPTER XX. 
 
 THE MORNING AFTER A REVEL. 
 
 THE next morning Julius was awakened by a 
 smart shaking, and the cry, " Wake up ! wake up, 
 Julius ! Here, it is nine o'clock, and the day of our 
 examination." 
 
 " Let nie alone ! " exclaimed Julius, settling himself 
 for another nap. 
 
 " No, no ; I have let you alone as long as it will 
 answer," continued Martin, giving the boy another 
 shake. 
 
 " Where am I?" asked Julius, only half awake. 
 
 " At the hotel, West Point. Come, arouse your 
 self." So saying, Martin hauled Julius from the bed, 
 where he had lain without undressing. 
 
 " O, I have a dreadful headache ! " exclaimed the 
 poor boy. " What ails me ? " 
 
 " Why, you were gloriously drunk last night," said 
 Martin, laughing. 
 
 " Horrible ! How can you laugh, Martin ? " 
 
THE MORNING AFTER A REVEL. 115 
 
 " Come, take off your coat, and let me brush it ; 
 change your other clothes ; dip your head in colcl 
 water, then go down and take some strong coffee ; I 
 have ordered it ; and you will be well enough." 
 
 " Examination ! How my head swims ! I never 
 can get through with my examination," said Julius as 
 he followed Martin's directions. 
 
 " Yes you can ; you are posted up in every 
 thing. Come along; the coffee will set you up." 
 
 "With those fine, dark eyes, red and bleary, cast 
 down for shame, Julius appeared before the Ex 
 aminers. His mind was confused, and he hesitated 
 at questions he would otherwise have answered 
 with promptness. In mathematics he was remark 
 ably well prepared, but now he blundered and 
 seemed a very poor scholar. 
 
 One of the Examiners whispered to another who 
 was pressing hardly upon Julius with difficult prob 
 lems : " Spare the boy ; he is a noble fellow ; I 
 will tell you about him another time." 
 
 Martin, who was by no means as well prepared 
 in mathematics, passed a better examination. 
 
 It was very doubtful whether Julius would be 
 admitted to the Academy. 
 
116 I WILL BE A SOLDIER. 
 
 He went to the hotel, and locked himself into his 
 room. No mortal might intrude upon that hour of 
 agonizing repentance and earnest prayer. 
 
 There was a knock at the door. 
 
 A gentleman had sent up his card, " Professor 
 
 B ," and wished to see Julius Farley in his own 
 
 room. 
 
 " Ask him to walk up," said Julius, much wonder 
 ing why the Professor called upon him. 
 
 The gentleman who now cordially addressed Ju 
 lius was Professor of Mathematics in Uni 
 versity. 
 
 " I received a letter yesterday," said he, " from my 
 friend Mr. Leonardson, enclosing a testimonial from 
 the principal of the school in which you have been a 
 pupil. You know he had it deciphered from the 
 original. The principal, in addition to your distin 
 guished reputation as a scholar, mentions your high 
 moral worth. This is confirmed by my friend, Mr. 
 Leonardson, who gives an account of your heroic 
 conduct at the time of the burning of the steamboat. 
 You were exceedingly embarrassed to-day before our 
 Board, and failed in your examination. After the 
 candidates for admission had left, I begged permis 
 sion of the Board of Examiners to read to them my 
 
THE MORNING AFTER A REVEL. 117 
 
 letter and its enclosure. They were much in your 
 favor ; but the marks were against you, and you are 
 in danger of being rejected." 
 
 " I deserve it," replied Julius, with profound hu 
 mility. 
 
 " But I have asked permission to give you a pri 
 vate examination, in consideration of your youth. 
 You failed most in mathematics, where you are 
 known to be remarkably talented. A friend of yours, 
 whom I met in the parlor below just now, told me 
 he was at school with you, and, though two years 
 younger than himself, you were always in advance 
 of him in all your studies." 
 
 " Do you know, sir, why I failed in my examina 
 tion ? " asked Julius, with an expression of deep de 
 spondency. 
 
 " Because you were frightened," was the reply. 
 
 " No, sir ; for the first and only time in my life, I 
 was intoxicated last night," was the humble, sorrow 
 ful confession; "and this morning my head ached, 
 and was so confused that I did not know anything. 
 I do not deserve what has been my ardent wish for 
 years." 
 
 And the boy, in spite of his desire to be manly, 
 burst into tears. 
 
118 I WILL BE A SOLDIER. 
 
 " You were led by others into that miserable con 
 dition," suggested the Professor. 
 
 " I blame only myself." 
 
 " I admire your honest frankness. I find by the 
 testimonial that you are further advanced in mathe 
 matics than is required for admission to the Acad 
 emy. I will give you an examination this evening." 
 
 " Why not now, this moment ? " said Julius, 
 eagerly. 
 
 " Your friend told me you had taken neither break 
 fast nor dinner to-day ; it will be better for you to 
 come to my room in this hotel at eight o'clock this 
 evening." 
 
 Just then there was a knock at the door. 
 
 It was Martin, whose patience would hold out no 
 longer. 
 
 "You are engaged; perhaps I intrude," said Martin. 
 
 " No ; come in. I have something special to say 
 to you ; take a seat," said the Professor, gravely. 
 
 " Martin Hackerty," he continued, " it seems you 
 enticed your young friend, last night, into bad com 
 pany." 
 
 " Did he say so ? " demanded Martin, passionately. 
 
 He did not." 
 
 " Well, then, it is true ; I did." 
 
THE MORNING AFTER A REVEL. 119 
 
 " You see what the consequences are, he failed 
 in his examination, and is in danger of being re 
 jected." 
 
 " O, sir ! it was very cruel in me to place Julius 
 in the way of temptation. He never drinks, he never 
 swears, and I should have done both all through the 
 last two years if it had not been for him. I owe it 
 to him that I first thought of being a soldier ; I owe 
 it to his example that I was now able to pass my ex 
 amination." 
 
 Martin then eloquently set forth what had been 
 the uniform conduct of Julius at school, and how 
 enthusiastic he had been in his admiration of hero 
 ism, and his desire to serve his country. 
 
 " Last night I was released from my promise to 
 Julius," continued Martin, " and I thought we would 
 have a gay time together with some acquaintances I 
 had made here at West Point. I did not expect to 
 carry it so far." 
 
 " Ah, there it is, my young friends ; you are al 
 ways in danger of going too far ; it is better not to 
 begin. Soldiers, of all men, ought to be temperate 
 men. How is an officer fit to command when his 
 head is confused as yours was this morning, Farley ? 
 What dreadful consequences must result from his 
 
120 I WILL BE A SOLDIER. 
 
 habitual intoxication ? What a shocking example 
 he sets to his subordinates. No one thing has done 
 so much evil in the world as strong drink." 
 
 " We only took wine," said Martin. 
 
 " Yet you were intoxicated. It would be better 
 for you to refrain from what is in itself a good thing, 
 if you make a bad use of it." 
 
 " I am ready to renew my promise ; I will not take 
 any intoxicating drinks while I am a cadet at West 
 Point. What say you, Julius, shall we make the 
 agreement ? " 
 
 " How can I have confidence in myself, after hav 
 ing been so miserably weak and wicked ? " exclaimed 
 the penitent boy. 
 
 " Try again, try again, my good fellow," said the 
 Professor, encouragingly, " and do not trust entirely 
 in your own strength. Moral principles are not 
 strong enough to restrain from evil ; Christian prin 
 ciples must come to their aid. Now, on this very 
 spot, enlist in the service of the Captain of your 
 Salvation; and if you are faithful to him, you will 
 be faithful to your country. War is a tremendous 
 evil, but, in the present state of the world, a neces 
 sary evil. We need heroic Christian soldiers, such 
 as was our own Washington. May the time never 
 
THE MORNING AFTER A REVEL. 121 
 
 come when it shall be scornfully said of us, that we 
 are a * nation of shopkeepers.' "We must encourage 
 a spirit of enthusiastic patriotism and admiration for 
 courage and magnanimity." 
 
 "I understand, Farley," he continued, "that you 
 make the same resolution as your friend with regard 
 to intoxicating drinks." 
 
 " I do, most solemnly," was the reply. 
 
 " I have no doubt you will keep it; and I advise 
 you both to add a resolution against tobacco in all its 
 loathsome forms. Come to me, Farley, at the ap 
 pointed hour, and meantime don't be too anxious about 
 the result." 
 
 The Professor then laid a slip of paper on the 
 table, saying: "I made an extract from the works 
 of Charles Lamb, not long 'since, in which he relates 
 his own mournful experience ; I leave it with you 
 for your thoughtful perusal." 
 
 " The waters have gone over me. But out of the 
 black depths, could I be heard, I would cry to all 
 those who have set a foot on the perilous flood. 
 Could the youth, to whom the flavor of the first wine 
 is delicious as the opening season of life, or the 
 entering upon some newly discovered paradise, look 
 
 
 
122 I WILL BE A SOLDIER. 
 
 into my desolation, and be made to understand what 
 a dreary thing it is when he shall feel himself going 
 down a precipice with open eyes and passive will to 
 his destruction, and have no power to stop it, and yet 
 feel it all the way -emanating from himself; to see all 
 godliness emptied out of him, and yet not able to 
 forget a time when it was otherwise ; to bear about 
 the piteous spectacle of his own ruin, could he see 
 my fevered eye, feverish with the last night's drink 
 ing, and feverishly looking for to-night's repetition 
 of the folly ; could he but feel the body of the death 
 out of which I cry hourly with feeble outcry to be 
 delivered, it were enough to make him dash the 
 sparkling beverage to the earth, in all the pride of its 
 mantling temptation." 
 
"FLEEBS." 123 
 
 CHAPTEE XXI 
 
 "PLEEBS." 
 
 JULIUS remained in a state of anxiety and sus 
 pense for several days, but was at last relieved ; he 
 was regularly a Cadet at the West Point Acad 
 emy. 
 
 Instead of entering with the prestige with which 
 he might have entered, had it not been for that most 
 unfortunate carouse, he had only been admitted in 
 
 consequence of the kindness of Professor B , 
 
 who examined him in mathematics. True, he sur 
 prised even the learned Professor by some of his 
 demonstrations, and solved problems at a glance that 
 would have made many a university student stare, 
 and, to use their own term, " fizzle." 
 
 Moreover, he was considered by the wilder set of 
 cadets as " hail fellow, well met." His boon com 
 panions at Martin's supper had so reported him. 
 
 At that time the new class, the " Pleebs" (plebs), 
 as they are called, were subjected to even more 
 
124 I WILL BE A SOLDIER. 
 
 tormentation than the fags in an English school. 
 The evil has been partially remedied, yet there is a 
 strong desire on the part of the class who have ad 
 vanced one grade, to play the same tricks on the 
 "Pleebs" that they received from their predeces 
 sors. 
 
 Not long after Julius had worn " the button," 
 which, by the way, he wore as proudly as ever 
 knight-errant of old wore his lady's favor, a ribbon 
 or scarf, he was to be initiated into some of the 
 mysteries of West Point. 
 
 While sleeping soundly in his tent, he was sud 
 denly grasped by the feet and dragged out of bed. 
 He had previously resolved to submit quietly to any 
 infliction he was not strong enough to resist. He 
 was in the hands of four or five, arid made neither 
 struggle nor outcry. They dragged him over the 
 ground, his head going 
 
 " Knickerty knock, like a pebble in Carisbrook well." 
 
 " I believe the fellow is asleep," said one of his 
 tormentors. 
 
 " Lift him up ! " cried another. 
 
 So they raised up his feet in the air and held him 
 with his head on the ground. Still no struggle, no 
 outcry. 
 
"PLEEBS." 125 
 
 " How are you, fellow ? " demanded another. 
 
 " Perpendicular ! Apex reversed," answered Ju 
 lius. 
 
 This reply was followed by suppressed laughter, 
 and then the remark, " You seem to like your posi 
 tion." 
 
 " I prefer the horizontal, if it is equally agreeable 
 to yourselves," calmly replied Julius. 
 
 " There 's no fun where the fellow takes it so 
 coolly," whispered one of the Cadets ; " let 's try 
 another." 
 
 So they let go, and down came Julius at full length 
 upon the ground. 
 
 In the same manner as they had dragged Julius 
 out of bed, they attempted to draw Martin. But he 
 kicked and scratched and bit and spit, all to no pur 
 pose ; his tormentors were only the more deter 
 mined ; they dragged him along, in spite of shrieks 
 and howls loud enough to echo from Fort Putnam. 
 
 " He's a tall, slim fellow," said one; " let's run him 
 into a big gun ; that will stop his yells." 
 
 No sooner said than done. They forced his head 
 into the mouth of a cannon, and might have proceed 
 ed further, had they not been suddenly interrupted. 
 A number of the " Pleebs " whom Julius had sum- 
 
126 I WILL BE A SOLDIER. 
 
 moned to his aid suddenly came upon them, armed 
 with canes, and obliged them to desist, and defend 
 themselves. 
 
 Martin, though bruised and stunned, rose to his 
 feet, and was surprised to see Julius flourishing a big 
 cane among the Cadets who had just been ramming 
 him into the cannon, and that the blows came with 
 effect from the strong arm of his friend. 
 
 The Pleebs came off conquerors ; the tormentors 
 fled. Julius had received a cut on the back of his 
 head from a sharp stone, but in his eagerness to res 
 cue Martin he had not noticed it ; the blood flowed 
 freely over the dressing-gown he had thrown on in 
 haste, and a faintness followed which obliged him to 
 depend upon Martin to lead him to his tent. 
 
 Martin bound up the head of Julius with his hand 
 kerchief, and together they walked over the parade- 
 ground, wondering much how the older class could 
 find pleasure in such cruelty. Julius ever after bore 
 a scar as a memorial of that night's adventure. 
 
 From this time the two friends were called Damon 
 and Pythias. 
 
 Whether the same set who had been foiled in their 
 first attempt at teasing Julius, or another set with 
 similar tastes for tormenting Pleebs, Julius did not 
 
"PLEEBS." 127 
 
 know; at all events, he was subjected to another 
 visitation. 
 
 Early one morning, he found a note in his tent 
 with these few words, " Take care to cover your head 
 to-night, but keep it out of bed, face up." 
 
 During the day, Julius made a mask of paste 
 board and painted it, so that it looked natural enough 
 to deceive any one by a dim light. When he went 
 to bed, he put on the mask. It had no opening for 
 the eyes ; they were painted closed, and so was the 
 mouth ; the only breathing-place was at the nostrils. 
 He then tied on a night-cap which covered the rest 
 of his head, and kept the mask firm in its place. 
 
 For more than an hour he lay in expectation of 
 his visitors, very uncomfortable, of course, with his 
 pasteboard mask. He began to think the note was 
 a hoax, when he heard low whispers near him. Pres 
 ently the light of a dark-lantern was thrown upon 
 his face. He breathed regularly and quietly, with 
 out moving a muscle. He knew some one was near 
 him performing some kind of operation, and, judging 
 from the smell, they were painting his face ! 
 
 They had taken great pains not to awaken him, 
 having even warmed the paint, lest a cold applica 
 tion should disturb him. They drew the soft brush 
 
128 I WILL BE A SOLDIER. 
 
 carefully over the upturned face and left him, saying, 
 " He never stirred ; he sleeps like the Seven Sleepers, 
 or Rip Van Winkle." 
 
 " A handsome nigger he'll be on parade to-mor 
 row," said another. 
 
 After a while Julius carefully removed the mask, 
 and went quietly to sleep. When he awoke in the 
 morning, behold ! the mask was entirely black, and 
 the paint perfectly dry ! What an escape ! Julius 
 never knew who gave him the friendly warning that 
 saved him from having his face in the same con 
 dition. During the day, he observed many inquir 
 ing glances cast towards him, followed by looks, in 
 terchanged, of extreme surprise. He overheard one 
 of the Cadets say to another, " How did the fellow 
 get the paint off ?" and turning suddenly, Julius re 
 plied, " I '11 give you the recipe when you need it." 
 
 This was followed by a hearty laugh on both sides. 
 The recipe was never called for ; and to this day the 
 Cadets who did the mischief do not know by what 
 process Julius removed the black paint which was 
 put upon his face. 
 
 Another mode these bad fellows had of torment 
 ing Julius still worse. They said they would 
 " swear him away from West Point." Accordingly, 
 
"PLEEBS." 129 
 
 whenever they had an opportunity, they used the 
 most awfully profane language in his presence. 
 Poor Julius was more grieved by these assaults 
 than by the attacks upon his person. There were 
 many honorable exceptions among the Cadets ; but 
 profanity was so common, that they seemed gen 
 erally to have lost all sense of its sinfulness. 
 Martin found more difficulty in keeping his reso 
 lution in this respect than in any other ; so easily 
 is this shocking habit acquired, so difficult is it to 
 be overcome. 
 
130 I WILL BE A SOLDIER. 
 
 CHAPTER XXII. 
 
 DAMON AND PYTHIAS. 
 
 LETTER FROM JULIUS FARLEY TO EUTH ROLAND. 
 
 " MY DEAR COUSIN RUTH : I enclose the fifty 
 dollars you were so kind as to send me while I 
 was in Washington. You know I accepted it grate 
 fully as a loan, and it came to me when I was in 
 need. Now I have no manner of use for it. The 
 executor, of whom I wrote to you, sent me one 
 hundred dollars, which (with the addition of the 
 clothing in the big trunk you were so kind as to 
 forward to me), was quite sufficient for my outfit, 
 and to leave enough in the hands of the commis 
 sary for future needs. We receive, as Cadets, 
 thirty dollars per month, and that is enough for 
 all our expenses. We have no use for money. 
 The government, like a kind father, takes excellent 
 care of us, and the benefits come to us like the 
 rain and the dew, without our perceiving from 
 whence they come. With few exceptions, I like 
 
DAMON AND PYTHIAS. 131 
 
 this military academy exceedingly. We can here 
 receive an excellent education, quite as good as 
 at a college, and for my tastes much better. I 
 have become very fond of drawing, and, what will 
 no doubt amuse you, am adding to other accom 
 plishments, dancing. This last is a part of our 
 regular course. You would have laughed at the 
 awkward attempts of our strapping six-footers when 
 they first commenced tripping it ' on the light fan 
 tastic toe.' They soon learn, however, to move 
 with ease, if not with remarkable grace* I have 
 had to undergo a severe initiation to the mysteries 
 of Pleleianism. This I will explain to you when 
 we meet. 
 
 "I hope Cousin Tom is attending to his studies, 
 so that he can enter college at the next commence 
 ment. It would be a misfortune to him not to 
 have a profession. He has my best wishes. 
 
 " Forgive me, dear E-uth, for writing such a cold, 
 formal letter. I do not like these bothersome pe 
 cuniary matters, between friends ; they make me 
 feel stiff and constrained. 
 
 " Have you been to see my good friend Sergeant 
 Moses and sweet little Nannie ? If you have not, 
 please do so for my sake, and give them most 
 affectionate remembrances from me. 
 
132 I WILL BE A SOLDIER. 
 
 "Write to me soon, and frequently, dear Ruth. 
 You can scarcely imagine how exceedingly welcome 
 your letters are to 
 
 " Yours, devotedly, 
 
 " JULIUS FARLEY." 
 
 This first year was to Julius one of much vexa 
 tion, in consequence of his misadventure at the 
 hotel on his arrival at West Point. Beside having 
 just escaped rejection at his examination, the knowl 
 edge of that unfortunate spree came by some means 
 to the professors of the Academy, and he was sus 
 piciously watched by them. But that was not the 
 worst consequence. The more unprincipled among 
 the Cadets claimed him as of their " set," but when 
 they found that he avoided them, they became his 
 enemies, and annoyed him in a thousand ways. 
 With all these disadvantages, before the close of 
 the year Julius had succeeded in gaining the appro 
 bation of all the professors and the respect of his 
 comrades. It could not be otherwise ; for consis 
 tency of character, and decision with regard to 
 what is right, with kind, conciliatory manners, never 
 fail to win respect. 
 
 11 Suaviter in modo, fortiter in re." 
 
DAMON AND PYTHIAS. 133 
 
 Martin wielded the weapon of ridicule to ward 
 off many an attack upon his younger friend, in a 
 war of words ; and Julius amply repaid him for 
 his championship by aiding Martin in his studies, 
 and cheering him on to keep his good resolutions. 
 They were very willing to be called " the insepara 
 bles," Damon and Pythias. 
 
 Julius pursued the same course with his com 
 panions now, that he had done at school : he never 
 lectured, or reproved them, excepting by example. 
 And that example had much more influence for 
 good than he would have believed possible. It 
 strengthened the weak in their endeavors to do 
 right ; it excited the ambitious to greater and more 
 persistent efforts to gain a high standing in their 
 class. To be good is to do good, anywhere and 
 everywhere. 
 
 The first year of trial was ended. Julius and 
 Martin were no longer Pleebs ; they magnanimously 
 resolved not to inflict upon their successors to the 
 opprobrious term any of the vexations to which 
 they had themselves been subjected. 
 
134 I WILL BE A SOLDIER. 
 
 CHAPTER XXIII. 
 
 GRACEFUL AND DISGRACEFUL. 
 
 JULIUS had been at West Point more than a 
 year, and not a single visitor had made inquiry 
 for him. It was therefore a very agreeable sur 
 prise when one morning he received a note from 
 Ruth, informing him that she and her brother 
 were at the hotel. He immediately applied for a 
 "permit" to go there to see his friends, which 
 was readily granted. It was a pleasant meeting, 
 though somewhat marred by the intolerable inso 
 lence of Tom, who attempted to be very severe on 
 the uniform of the Cadet, and his " fine airs." 
 
 After the usual greetings and inquiries, Julius 
 said : " I should like to bring a friend of mine to 
 see you ; my own particular, my alter ego, as 
 he calls himself." 
 
 "I thought you would despise Latin here, at 
 this blood-and-th under place," replied Tom, with 
 one of his habitual sneers. "I despise the dead 
 lingoes everywhere ; but who is your friend ? " 
 
GRACEFUL AND DISGRACEFUL. 135 
 
 "One whom you were pleased formerly to ac 
 knowledge as your own, Martin Hackerty." 
 
 "Martin Hackerty!" Tom and Ruth both ex 
 claimed in a breath. 
 
 " Yes, the very same ; shall I ask him to call 
 on you ? " 
 
 " You need n't do it ; I '11 write a note to him 
 myself," replied Tom, consequentially. 
 
 TOM'S NOTE TO CADET HACKERTY. 
 
 "OLD CRONY : I know you have n't forgot me, 
 Thomas Roland of Elmlawn. We had too much 
 royal fun together for that. I am up to snuff 
 still, and hope you are, though that milksop, Jule, 
 dames you as his most particerler friend. Ruth 
 and I will be glad to have you call imediately at 
 
 the hotel. 
 
 " Yours, truly, 
 
 "ToM ROLAND." 
 
 While Tom had gone to write the note, Ruth 
 said : "I am greatly surprised, Julius, that you have 
 chosen Martin Hackerty for your friend ; either 
 you or he must have changed in character since 
 you met at Elmlawn." 
 
136 I WILL BE A SOLDIER. 
 
 " Years have passed since," said Julius, " and 
 we may have both altered. He was then a boy 
 of sixteen ; now he is in his twentieth year. He 
 was then mischievous, ready for a frolic, and was 
 considered a wit. He had one disgusting vice, 
 profanity. As a foundation for a better charac 
 ter, he was truthful, generous, and warm-hearted. 
 I beg of you to lay aside prejudice, and see my 
 friend as he is." 
 
 Tom returned, having despatched his elegant note 
 to Martin. 
 
 " I suppose your friend can rip out an oath as 
 bravely as ever," said he. " It 's a part of a soldier's 
 duty to be profane." 
 
 " It is a part of a soldier's duty to obey the ten 
 commandments. We do not erase the third from the 
 Decalogue," replied Julius. 
 
 " Let me think what that is. It is so long since I 
 said my catechism, I really don't remember it. I 
 thought by this- time they would have made a jolly 
 fellow of you here. You was n't the right stuff; you 
 are just as prim and puritanical as ever. I hope you 
 have n't spoiled Martin; he was a brick, and no 
 mistake." 
 
 Ruth looked sorrowfully at her brother, but did not 
 
GRACEFUL AND DISGRACEFUL. 137 
 
 rebuke him ; she had long since given that up as a 
 hopeless task. 
 
 The oaths with which Tom plentifully desecrated 
 his conversation are omitted. 
 
 A tall young man, at least six feet two, came in, 
 and bowed gracefully to Ruth. His gray uniform 
 fitted well his fine figure ; his countenance was frank 
 and pleasing. 
 
 Surely this could not be Martin Hackerty ! 
 
 Julius regarded him with proud satisfaction. 
 
 " Excuse me," said Ruth ; " I did not, at first, 
 recognize Mr. Hackerty ! " 
 
 Tom, who was still of the " roly-poly " style, short 
 and thick, looked up at the tall Cadet with envy. 
 
 " Why, Martin, is it you ? " said he. " Get yourself 
 razeed ; you are too tall for anything but a barber's 
 pole." 
 
 " I may get razeed, as you call it, Tom, one of these 
 days. Many a soldier comes out of battle a head 
 shorter than he went in." Then, turning to Ruth, 
 Martin said: "You do not appear to me to have 
 changed at all since that memorable evening when I 
 made such a fool of myself before you. How strange 
 it is that boys should be ashamed of their better feel 
 ings ! At that very time, when I was making myself 
 
138 I WILL BE A SOLDIER. 
 
 ridiculous, I would gladly have appeared to advan 
 tage in your company ; but I had to sustain the 
 character of a merry-andrew among my schoolmates." 
 
 " Ridiculous ! " retorted Tom. " You was the life 
 and soul of the company, arid I was right glad I 
 asked you without permission. Ruth thought you 
 was a ' naughty boy,' because your jokes were not fit 
 for girls to hear. Come, come, don't look so shame 
 faced ; you are as red as claret, or old port. By the 
 way, come and take supper with me here to-night. 
 I know two or three real rollicking fellows from the 
 city, who are staying at this hotel ; come, and we '11 
 have a right jolly time." 
 
 Martin and Julius exchanged glances ; they knew, 
 quite too well, what was meant by a "right jolly 
 time." They had not entered the hotel till now, 
 since the sad jolly time that had been followed by 
 such unpleasant consequences. How hard it is to 
 remove the stains made by sin and folly! Martin 
 had 1 darker, deeper stains on his early character than 
 Julius. At this moment, in the presence of Ruth, 
 they looked to him more ugly than ever before. Ju 
 lius regarded Martin with some anxiety, to know 
 what reply he would make to the invitation Tom had 
 given him. 
 
GRACEFUL AND DISGRACEFUL. 139 
 
 " Thank you, Tom ; I am engaged this evening," 
 said he. 
 
 "Another evening will do as well. They have 
 at this hotel, I suppose, Champagne, Burgundy, Cha 
 teau Margeau, and so forth, and so forth. I '11 give 
 you a rousing treat. Ask as many of your fast 
 men as you please. I tell you, we '11 make a night 
 of it." 
 
 (Fast men of seventeen years of age ! Fast men, 
 indeed !) 
 
 " I don't drink wine, Tom," replied Martin. 
 
 " Not drink wine ! Then you shall have whiskey, 
 brandy, or old Jamaica." 
 
 " You go it strong, Mr. Roland ; but I must de 
 cline. I am an advocate for temperance," replied 
 Martin, pleasantly. 
 
 " Well, now, I never supposed being a Cadet at 
 "West Point would so completely spoil a good fellow. 
 I should n't wonder, after all, if it has n't been the 
 doing of that piece of piety, Julius Farley ! " 
 
 " I am indebted to my friend, Julius Farley, for 
 more than I could name at present," said Martin, 
 giving Julius a glance that told plainer than words 
 of grateful remembrances. 
 
 " I wonder if you don't think it sinful to smoke a 
 cigar, or chew a cud of tobacco ? " 
 
140 I WILL BE A SOLDIER. 
 
 " I think it a dirty, disgusting practice to chew to 
 bacco," replied Martin. 
 
 Tom rolled the cud, as he called it, around his 
 mouth, and spirted the nasty juice upon the carpet, 
 spitting defiance at his quondam friend. 
 
 It is not strange that Martin rose every moment in 
 Ruth's estimation during this conversation. 
 
 " Would you like to make the tour of our West 
 Point this morning, Cousin Ruth ? " asked Julius ; 
 " we happen not to be on duty, and can attend you." 
 
 Ruth assented to the proposal, and went to prepare 
 herself. They asked Tom to accompany them. 
 
 " No," said he, " I hate seeing the lions ; I '11 take 
 a cigar here on the piazza, or stroll away by myself." 
 
 Martin was about to say, " I am sorry you' admire 
 such poor company," but forbore. 
 
 Tom was like the travelled stork in the fable, who, 
 going over many beautiful countries, saw nothing, and 
 could tell of nothing but the dirty pools from which 
 he drank, and the fat frogs that he guzzled down on 
 his journeys. Tom was a complete guzzletonian, a 
 hero among guzzletonians ; not a boy in the country 
 could boast of having eaten more good things during 
 his boyhood ; and as for drink, alas ! alas ! 
 
 Between the two cadets Ruth w? 11 - - "" 
 
GRACEFUL AND DISGRACEFUL. 141 
 
 parade-ground. What a pleasure it was to them to 
 escort a beautiful young lady ! How enviously some 
 of their companions looked after them ! 
 
 Ruth was still in mourning, relieved in part by 
 white, and lilac, which was becoming to her delicate 
 complexion. The exhilarating air gave a glow to 
 her usually pale cheeks, and the pleasure of seeing 
 Julius, animation to her countenance, and sparkling 
 brightness to her dark blue eyes. 
 
 The trophies of war, in the room devoted to their 
 exhibition, called forth Ruth's enthusiasm, and her 
 admiration for heroism. 
 
 " Chippewa, Lundy's Lane, New Orleans, Palo 
 Alto, Churubusco ! How delighted our old friend 
 Sergeant Moses would be to see these trophies of 
 the valor of our soldiers ! " she exclaimed, with a 
 bright glow on her expressive face. 
 
 " Then you know my friend, the fine old soldier," 
 said Julius. 
 
 " Indeed I do," answered Ruth ; " I have been to 
 his cottage very frequently, and sweet little Nannie 
 has passed whole days with me at Elmlawn." 
 
 The reminiscences called up in the mind of Mar 
 tin were not so agreeable as they might have been. 
 
 " I could always find subjects of conversation," 
 
142 I WILL BF- A SOLDIER. 
 
 continued Ruth, " that deeply interested the Ser 
 geant." 
 
 " New Orleens and Gineral Jackson," suggested 
 Julius, laughing. 
 
 u He has another hero, now, whom he never tires 
 talking about, and Nannie joins with him most enthu 
 siastically," said Ruth with a smile, and a significant 
 glance towards Julius. 
 
 " One Martin Hackerty, is it not, who made a 
 magnanimous return for a fine treat of strawberries ? " 
 asked Martin, with a comical sobriety of counte 
 nance. 
 
 " I never heard him mention the magnanimous 
 act," said Ruth, well remembering herself the bill that 
 was sent in for " four quarts of strawberries." 
 
 " Let bygones be bygones, Martin ; were you to 
 see the nice old soldier now, you would admire him 
 as much as we do. How is it with Nannie ? " coi> 
 tinned Julius, turning to Ruth ; " does she like to 
 read with her fingers as well as ever ? " 
 
 " O yes indeed ; I have purchased her several 
 books with raised letters, and she delights in them ; 
 but she has still greater fondness for music, for which 
 she has uncommon talent. It has been a great pleas 
 ure to me during the past year to teach her." 
 
GRACEFUL AND DISGRACEFUL. 143 
 
 " How very kind ! " exclaimed Martin. 
 
 " Not so ; as I said, it has been my greatest pleas 
 ure and my only amusement for many months. I 
 have promised her grandfather to take charge of her 
 when he is called away." 
 
 " That will be a great relief to his mind. He often 
 said, l What will become of my poor blind Nannie 
 when I am gone ? ' I, of course, could not answer 
 the sad question, and I am a thousand times obliged 
 to you, Ruth, for setting his mind at rest." 
 
 " My brother is very kind to poor Nannie," said 
 Ruth, her color rising and her countenance betraying 
 a singular mingling of sadness and pleasure. It was 
 the one redeeming trait in Tom's character : he was 
 exceedingly kind to the unfortunate child. 
 
 The three went next to visit the Chapel. It 
 struck Ruth, at first sight, that there was here a 
 strange mingling of the secular and the sacred, the 
 military and the religious. She remembered having 
 seen, when she was quite young, the same mingling 
 of seeming opposites in cathedrals and chapels in 
 England. 
 
 There are niches in the side walls of the West 
 Point Chapel in which are colors taken by our sol 
 diers in battles, varied in their rich hues, and gilded 
 
144 I WILL BE A SOLDIER. 
 
 ornaments. On the walls are black tablets with the 
 names of distinguished American generals, and the 
 time of their birth and death in gilt letters, sim 
 ple but touching memorials of departed valor and 
 patriotism, 
 
 "Immortal names, that were not born to die, " 
 
 Putnam, Lafayette, Green, Marion, Mercer, Stark. 
 " Stark ! " exclaimed Julius : 
 
 ' The Green Mountaineer, the Stark of Bennington I 
 When on the field his band the Hessians fought, 
 
 Briefly he spoke before the fight began : 
 " Soldiers ! Those German gentlemen are bought, 
 
 For four pound eight and seven-pence per man, 
 By England's king, a bargain, as is thought. 
 
 Are we worth more ? Let 's prove it, now we can, 
 For we must beat them, boys, ere set of sun, 
 
 OR MARY STARK 's A WIDOW! " It was done.' 
 
 Is n't that a glorious ending to the stanza ? real 
 Spartan, 'It was done ! ' " said Julius, glowing with 
 enthusiasm. 
 
 " Who is the author ? I don't remember to have 
 heard it before," inquired Martin. 
 
 " Our own poet, Fitz-Greene Halleck, the author 
 of Marco Bozzaris, that famous piece for school-boys 
 recitation," replied Julius. 
 
GRACEFUL AND DISGRACEFUL. 145 
 
 " I remember now my spouting it without much 
 feeling, and wondering to see you, Julius, so excited 
 by it," said Martin. 
 
 " I do not see a tablet here with the name of my 
 hero of heroes. Why is it?" asked Ruth, as she 
 sought in vain for the name of Washington. 
 
 " Being first in war, first in peace, and first in the 
 hearts of his countrymen, it may have been thought 
 that there was monumentum cere perennius, and none 
 was needed here," replied Martin. 
 
 " Since Julius has just been poetical, and Mr. 
 Hackerty classical, I think I may be pardoned for 
 reciting three stanzas from the pen of an English 
 poetess, Eliza Cook. 
 
 ' Rome had its Caesar, great and brave, but stain was on his 
 
 wreath, 
 
 He lived a heartless conqueror, and died the tyrant's death ; 
 France had its eagle, but his wings, though lofty they might soar, 
 Were spread in false ambitious flight, and dipped in murder's 
 
 gore. 
 Those hero-gods, whose mighty sway would fain have chained 
 
 the waves, 
 Who flashed their blades with tiger zeal, to make a world of 
 
 slaves ; 
 Wtio. though their kindred barred the path, still fiercely waded 
 
 on, 
 
 0, where shall be their " glory " by the side of WASHINGTON ? 
 7 j 
 
146 I WILL BE A SOLDIER. 
 
 * He fought, but not with love of strife ; lie struck but to defend ; 
 And ere he turned a people's foe, he sought to be a friend. 
 He strove to keep his country's right by reason's gentle word, 
 And sighed when fell injustice threw the challenge sword to 
 
 sword. 
 
 He stood the firm, the calm, the wise, the patriot and the sage; 
 He showed no deep avenging hate, no burst of despot rage ; 
 He stood for Liberty and Truth, and dauntlessly led on, 
 
 Till shouts of victory gave forth the name of WASHINGTON ! 
 
 i 
 
 ' No car of triumph bore him through a city filled with grief, 
 No groaning captives at the wheels proclaimed him victor chief. 
 He saved his land, but did not lay his soldier trappings down 
 To change them for the regal vest, and don a kingly crown. 
 Fame was too earnest in her joy, too proud of such a son, 
 To let a robe and title mark a noble WASHINGTON ! ' " 
 
 " Glorious for an Englishwoman ! " exclaimed Ju 
 lius. " Why, you might have written those splendid 
 lines yourself, Cousin Ruth." 
 
 " Thank you ; I particularly like the line, 
 
 1 He fought, but not with love of strife ; he struck but to defend.' 
 
 That is what you soldiers are to do for your country, 
 if ' fell injustice throws the challenge.' These me 
 morials of the brave must make your hearts throb 
 with a desire to imitate their noble deeds, and in 
 time have your own names placed here." 
 
 Martin bowed profoundly, rejoicing that he had 
 
GRACEFUL AND DISGRACEFUL. 147 
 
 chosen the profession of arms, and having a new 
 motive to emulate the examples so beautifully placed 
 before him by Ruth. 
 
 They then visited the Gallery of Paintings. 
 
 " All these, with a very few exceptions, wero 
 painted by Cadets of our Military Academy," said 
 Julius, with genuine esprit du corps ; " we are 
 thought to excel in this department, one Cadet 
 Hackerty, especially." 
 
 As they were returning from their walk, they saw 
 Tom having an altercation with one of the sentinels 
 on guard at the parade-ground. On hastening to the 
 spot they heard Tom crying out, " I say, I will walk 
 where I please ! " followed by a tremendous oath. 
 
 " You shall not ! " cried the guard, pointing his 
 bayonet toward him. 
 
 Martin seized Tom by the collar ; as he did so, 
 Tom brought round his big fist and struck Martin in 
 the face. 
 
 " You are forbidden to walk within the guard 
 houses. Come with me to the hotel," said Martin, 
 calmly and decidedly, at the same time dragging him 
 back, saying, " Don't disgrace yourself, Tom." 
 
 " You have become a complete milk-sot yourself," 
 cried Tom. 
 
148 I WILL BE A SOLDIER. 
 
 A crowd began to assemble to see what was going 
 on, and Julius hurried with Ruth to the hotel. He 
 returned in time to aid Martin in his efforts to per 
 suade, or rather to force, Tom to walk to the hotel ; 
 for some of his favorite wines or stronger drinks had 
 rendered walking no very easy matter for Tom. 
 With some difficulty they led him to his room and 
 locked him in. Julius then went to Ruth, who had 
 taken refuge in a retired walk at a short distance 
 from the hotel. He found her weeping at the dis 
 graceful conduct of her brother. 
 
 Without appearing to notice her tears, he expa 
 tiated on the beauty of the prospect, as they caught 
 occasional glimpses of the river, or looked down into 
 deep, wild ravines. Somewhat abruptly he said : 
 " What do you think of my friend Martin, and of our 
 alliance ? Do you disapprove of it ? " 
 
 " No, Julius ; I am glad you have so true and 
 so good a friend. He is not what I expected he 
 would be." 
 
 " But you don't speak warmly enough : he is a 
 noble fellow." 
 
 " That will do better for you to say than for me, 
 on so short an acquaintance." 
 
 " I hope this is only the beginning of an acquaint- 
 
GRACEFUL AND DISGRACEFUL. 149 
 
 ance -which will convince you that I do not over 
 estimate my friend. There are many fine young 
 men here, talented, warm-hearted, patriotic, but none 
 that I would so soon choose for my bosom-friend as 
 Hackerty. He is a general favorite, too. He has 
 not a particle of harshness in his nature ; and if he 
 should ever have a command, his soldiers would 
 almost idolize him. You may smile, Ruth, but he 
 is all that I say, and more." 
 
 " I do not smile incredulously," said Ruth. 
 
 " Julius," she continued, " I wish we could per 
 suade Tom to take his departure from this place to 
 morrow. I cannot leave him here, and it is too sad 
 and disgraceful for me to remain with him." 
 
 " I cannot aid you, Ruth ; he would only be the 
 more disposed to remain, if I were to suggest that 
 it would be well for him to leave." 
 
 When Tom was well sobered, Martin unlocked 
 the door of his room, and had a kind, friendly talk 
 with him ; but all to no purpose. He remained some 
 days longer at West Point, and further disgraced 
 himself by some ridiculous pranks. It was a great 
 relief to many, besides his friends, when he was 
 safely on his way homeward. 
 
150 I WILL BE A SOLDIER. 
 
 CHAPTER XXIV. 
 
 THE GOOD DAUGHTER. 
 
 IT was the first furlough that our Cadets Julius 
 and Martin had received. They travelled together 
 to New York, and there separated. Martin went 
 to his home in Ohio, Julius to visit Mr. Leonardson. 
 Many letters had passed between this gentleman and 
 Julius, and the invitation given in Washington had 
 been frequently repeated. 
 
 Mr. Leonardson resided in Pennsylvania. It 
 was a " sweet home." And what made it so ? Not 
 the magnificence of the mansion, for it was a plain, 
 comfortable country house. Not the extent and 
 beauty of the grounds ; excepting some fine old 
 trees, a small flower-garden, and a large orchard, 
 there were no " grounds," certainly not enough 
 for landscape-gardening; yet there was an air of 
 neatness and refinement about the exterior of the 
 place that corresponded with the air of the interior. 
 
 What made it so sweet a home ? 
 
THE GOOD DAUGHTER. 151 
 
 The intelligence, the taste, the love, the goodness, 
 that reigned there. 
 
 Mary Leonardson was the oldest of seven children. 
 The mother was a delicate woman, who would have 
 been burdened with care had it not been for the aid 
 of Mary, who bore much of the burden on her own 
 shoulders, and was like a second mother to the 
 younger children. 
 
 " A good daughter ! There are other ministries 
 of love more conspicuous than hers, but none in 
 which a gentler, lovelier spirit dwells. There is 
 little which he needs to covet, to whom the treasure 
 of a good child has been given. A good daughter 
 is the steady light of her parent's house. Her idea 
 is indissolubly connected with that of his happy fire 
 side. She is his morning sunlight and his evening 
 star. She is the pride and ornament of his hospi 
 tality, the gentle nurse of his sickness, and the con 
 stant agent in those nameless, numberless acts of 
 kindness which one chiefly loves to have rendered, 
 because they are unpretending, but all-expressive 
 proofs of love." 
 
 Such was the home where Julius was most cordially 
 received. 
 
 Two of the younger boys, Jack and Harry, as 
 
152 I WILL BE A SOLDIER. 
 
 they were familiarly called, ran down to the gate to 
 meet him, as he alighted from the stage-coach. 
 
 His portmanteau was thrown off, and the boys 
 snatched it up to carry it to the house. 
 
 " Why, now, it is n't the old knapsack after all," 
 said Jack. 
 
 " I thought, mister, you always wore a soldier's 
 knapsack. Sister Mary said you did," added Harry. 
 
 " Not always," replied Julius, much amused. 
 
 " But you did when you swum with one, and 
 saved our Mary from being drownded" cried the 
 younger boy. 
 
 "You shouldn't say drownded" whispered Harry. 
 
 "Then you have heard that story," said Julius. 
 
 " Yes, a thousand times," replied Jack. 
 
 " A million times," added Harry, vehemently. 
 
 " She said you were the best and courageousest 
 boy that ever lived," said the- younger. 
 
 By this time they were at the door, and Julius, 
 quite embarrassed at thus having his praises trum 
 peted in his hearing, met Mr. Leonardson and 
 Mary on the threshold. Their reception was as 
 cordial as though he had been a son and a brother. 
 Mrs. Leonardson was just behind them, and, with 
 out waiting for an introduction, grasped the hand 
 
THE GOOD DAUGHTER. 153 
 
 of Julius with both her own, and with tears in her 
 eyes welcomed him to her home. 
 
 The morning after his arrival, the small boys 
 were whispering together at the breakfast-table, 
 and looking quite dissatisfied. 
 
 Harry said, "He don't wear a soldier-cap, and 
 looks just like other folks." 
 
 Mr. Leonardson overheard the remark ; he saw 
 that Julius was dressed in the neatest possible 
 manner, as a civilian ; by the way, he was always 
 remarkably neat in his person and dress. 
 
 " These boys have so long heard of you as a 
 hero," said Mr. Leonardson, laughing, "that they 
 expected to see you a giant in size, wearing a 
 cocked hat with ten tall feathers, and a flaming 
 suit of scarlet, with buttons as big as a silver 
 dollar, did n't you, boys ? " 
 
 " No, I did n't," replied Harry, with a mortified 
 air. 
 
 "I did," cried Jack; "but he looks like a big 
 boy dressed in everybody's clothes." 
 
 There was a general laugh at Jack's expense. 
 
 Mary said: "It is not size that makes a hero, 
 Jack. Bonaparte was a small man, and so was 
 Alexander the Great. What would you have said, 
 7* 
 
154 I WILL BE A SOLDIER. 
 
 Harry, to see Peter the Great, the Czar of Rus 
 sia, in the dress of a ship-carpenter, working in 
 a ship-yard ? " 
 
 "I should say he ought to have been ashamed 
 of himself," replied Harry, warmly. 
 
 " I am ashamed of you, my boy," exclaimed his 
 father. " Have n't you had for a copy in your writ 
 ing-book, 
 
 1 Worth makes the man, the want of it the fellow ; 
 All else is leather or prunella ' ? " 
 
 " Yes, father ; but I never knew what it meant." 
 
 "It means, that if a man is worthy of respect, 
 he is just as much so dressed in a suit of 
 leather, or of coarse woollen stuff, as in the 
 finest broadcloth. ' The man 's the man for all 
 that and all that,' says the poet Burns." 
 
 " What would you think, boys, of a hero in a 
 brown-linen suit, without a hat to his head or 
 shoes to his feet ? " asked Mary, roguishly. 
 
 " I know who you mean ! I know who you 
 mean ! " shouted Harry, pointing at Julius, and 
 winking one eye at his younger brother. 
 
 "Yes, I know too; but I wish he would wear 
 his soldier-clothes," said Jack. 
 
 " If it will please you, I will ; but it is only a 
 
THE GOOD DAUGHTER. 155 
 
 gray suit, with shining buttons, and some stripes 
 of gold-lace on the sleeves." 
 
 "You will oblige the boy," said the mother. 
 
 " Certainly, madam ; they shall be gratified." 
 
 So, after a few hours, Julius walked out with 
 Harry and Jack, their sister by his side. The 
 boys were now quite delighted ; they ran before 
 and looked up at him with entirely a different 
 view of the subject, wide open eyes and mouths, 
 and pride in being with him. A few strips of 
 gold-lace have wonderful influence in dazzling the 
 eyes of children of a larger growth. 
 
 It cannot be denied that Mary's admiration of 
 her young hero was somewhat increased, though 
 she would have despised herself if she had not 
 received him with equal cordiality in the brown- 
 linen suit. Before this visit, she admired his pres 
 ence of mind and his courage, and was exceed 
 ingly grateful to him for having saved her life. 
 Her imagination had given him other attributes, which 
 a further acquaintance proved to be realities. 
 
 After having passed two of the most charming 
 weeks of his whole life, Julius left the happy home 
 with a promise to pay another visit. 
 
 " A longer one, after your course at West Point 
 is completed," said Mr. Leonardson. 
 
156 I WILL BE A SOLDIER. 
 
 " Thank you, sir ; my very first visit, unless 
 duty calls me away to the service to which I am 
 pledged. But if if" 
 
 " Shakespeare says, * But if is a traitor, to bring 
 forth some monstrous malefactor ' ; now what says 
 the traitor 'But if ' ? " 
 
 " If I am so unfortunate, or so undeserving, as 
 to take a low grade, I should not like to make 
 my appearance here," replied Julius, very se 
 riously. 
 
 " I am certain you will not be kept from us 
 on that account. What say you, Mary ? " 
 
 Thus unexpectedly, and unsuitably, as she 
 thought, called upon, she answered hastily, with 
 the color brightening her glowing cheeks : " He will 
 prove the traitor < But if false." 
 
 " You give me an additional motive to exertion," 
 said Julius, in a low voice. 
 
 The "farewells" were all said. The two boys 
 lugged the portmanteau to the gate. The hero had 
 won their love and admiration, even when he had 
 doffed his uniform. 
 
 After the stage-coach started, he heard Harry, 
 screaming at the top of his voice, " Do please wear 
 the old knapsack when you come again." 
 
WHAT DID YOU SAY? 157 
 
 CHAPTER XXV. 
 
 WHAT DID YOU SAY? 
 
 " DON'T talk to me of subordination ! Am I to 
 bend and cringe to an officer who swears at me and 
 treats me as if I were his slave ? " 
 
 "You are angry, Martin. Come, sit down with 
 me and explain." 
 
 Julius seated himself on the steps of the Chapel, 
 but Martin continued standing, his eyes flashing, and 
 his face fiery red. 
 
 " You are angry ; perhaps you will tell me your 
 grievances when you are more calm." 
 
 " Angry ! I have a right to be angry. I made 
 
 some small blunder on parade, and Major came 
 
 to me, seized me by the shoulder, and cursed me 
 right and left, up and down," replied Martin, gesticu 
 lating like a madman. 
 
 " And what did you say to him ? " 
 
 " I told him he was a fool." 
 
 " What will be the consequence ? " 
 
158 I WILL BE A SOLDIER. 
 
 " I neither know nor care. I suppose I shall be 
 sent away, dismissed, expelled, or whatever they 
 call it, degraded, at any rate." 
 
 " Come, now, Martin, sit down and listen to me 
 calmly." 
 
 " No, I will not." 
 
 Julius leaned his head upon his hand ; the tears 
 started to his eyes ; his love for Martin was deep and 
 strong. There was silence for several minutes, dur 
 ing which Martin strode away hastily, then returned 
 more slowly, and placed himself in front of Julius, 
 exclaiming : " Well, what has my Mentor to say ! I 
 suppose the young Telemachus must listen ! " 
 
 " No, Martin ; we speak as friend to friend. You 
 think the Major insulted you ? " 
 
 " Think ! I know he did." 
 
 " And you insulted him ? " 
 
 " I told him the truth. He is a confounded fool ! " 
 
 " That was a gross insult to a superior. We are 
 subordinates, and should invariably practise obedi 
 ence ; it is one of the first duties of a soldier. With 
 out strict obedience to officers, what would become 
 of an army?" 
 
 " You mistake ; it was not an act of disobedience 
 that caused the Major to use me so harshly. It was 
 a mere blunder from inattention on my part." 
 
WHAT DID YOU SAY? 159 
 
 "You must confess that you deserved the repri 
 mand." 
 
 " Suppose I did, could n't he have done it like a 
 gentleman ? " 
 
 " Suppose you had borne the reprimand like a gen 
 tleman, and not have returned ' railing for railing ' ; 
 suppose you had calmly expressed regret for your 
 carelessness ; he would have been reproved by your 
 self-command, and felt ashamed of his own conduct." 
 
 " I could n't have done it, if the whole world had 
 been offered me at that moment," said Martin, vehe 
 mently. 
 
 " Is a man fit for a soldier, who thus loses self- 
 command ? You know the old adage, ' If you would 
 command others, learn to command yourself.' Obedi 
 ence and self-command are as necessary to the soldier 
 as breath is to sustain human life." 
 
 " l Wise saws ' ; and now for the ' modern in 
 stance,' yourself" 
 
 " Don't let the saw irritate," said Julius, playfully. 
 
 " Nor the 'modern instance' either," retorted Mar 
 tin, with a smile. He was relenting. 
 
 "Perhaps the Major would accept an apology," 
 mildly suggested Julius. 
 
 " He ought to make one to me ; he was a thousand 
 
160 I WILL BE A SOLDIER. 
 
 times more to blame than I was. Swearing, too, 
 before the whole company ! Despicable ! " 
 
 " Show yourself brave and noble. Write an apol 
 ogy, or I fear you may be sent away." 
 
 u Then the motive would be fear, craven fear. I 
 can't do it, Julius ; I can't, indeed." 
 
 " No, you would have a higher motive ; a desire 
 to do what is just and right. The Major was wrong 
 to be angry, and to use harsh and profane language ; 
 show your magnanimity by acknowledging yourself 
 in the wrong, and by that light he will see his own 
 error. No one doubts your physical courage. Martin ; 
 prove that your moral courage even exceeds it." 
 
 " Ah, Julius, you do not know what it is to have 
 such a hurricane of a temper as I have. I have 
 used rash and unkind words to you while in this 
 passion, and you have met them with calmness and 
 kindness. Indeed, you have no violent temper to 
 contend with." 
 
 " My good mother could have told you a different 
 story. She had great trouble in endeavoring to sub 
 due my quick and fiery temper ; and I have still the 
 same trouble ; bit and bridle are still necessary for 
 me." 
 
 " Who would have thought it ? You keep a tight 
 
WHAT DID YOU SAY? 161 
 
 rein, then. Well, Jule, 1 11 go and see what kind of 
 an apology I can make, for I should hate to leave 
 you, and to lose all chance of distinguishing myself. 
 What should I do without you to snatch hold of the 
 reins when I am disposed for cavorting ? You hold 
 them tight, and now and then give a severe twitch." 
 
 " No indeed,, we only go side by side, and encour 
 age each other," said Julius, rising from the steps 
 where he had been seated. "I have a letter to write 
 for the next mail," he continued, " and you must 
 excuse me for hurrying away." 
 
 " Strange that one younger than myself can have 
 such influence over me," thought Martin. " I can't 
 half understand it ; yet it is irresistible." 
 
 Martin went to his room ; wrote one note, tore it 
 to atoms : it was an insult rather than an apology. 
 He wrote another, and still another. They would 
 not answer. The fourth satisfied his own sense of 
 what ought to be said, and yet seemed to him quite 
 too humble. However, he sent it. In return, he 
 received the following brief note : " Cadet Martin 
 
 Hackerty's apology is accepted by Major , who 
 
 was himself somewhat hasty." 
 
 No further notice was taken of the affair. 
 
162 I WILL BE A SOLDIER. 
 
 CHAPTER XXVI. 
 
 SERGEANT MOSES, FAREWELL! 
 
 RUTH ROLAND TO JULIUS FARLEY. 
 
 " Elmlawn. 
 
 " I HAVE melancholy news to tell you, my dear 
 Julius. Yet why should I call it melancholy ? The 
 good old Sergeant has triumphed over his last enemy, 
 Death, and gone to receive his reward from the 
 Great Conqueror of sin and death, who enabled him 
 thus to triumph. I went to see him only a few 
 days since. His more than threescore years and 
 ten had scarcely bent his -erect, soldierly form. His 
 snowy locks fell about a face almost as fair as that of 
 his own Nannie ; for temperance and cheerfulness 
 had there set their seal. 
 
 " He spoke calmly of his approaching dissolution ; 
 for although he was still able to sit in his arm-chair 
 by the" door of his cottage, he knew that his end was 
 drawing near. He spoke of you most affectionately, 
 my dear Julius, and fondly thought it was his in 
 fluence and his drilling that made you a soldier. 
 
SERGEANT MOSES, FAREWELL! 163 
 
 " * I have left my old musket and my captain's 
 sword/ said he, < to my brave lad, Julius Farley. 
 Say to him, he must l^eep them bright for my sake ; 
 bright as his own honor, and clear from stain as his 
 own conscience.' 
 
 " I was surprised at this glow of enthusiasm. It 
 was like the last red glow of sunset. His love for 
 you rendered the old man eloquent. 
 
 " He then gave some directions about Nannie, sol 
 emnly committing her to my charge. 
 
 " I left him with the sad conviction that I should 
 never look in that venerable face again. 
 
 " The woman, who formerly came only at night and 
 morning, to take care of the old man and his grand 
 child, had, for some time past, taken up her abode 
 with them, and I knew she would nurse the dear old 
 soldier tenderly. He passed away at last with a 
 gentle sigh. The last words he uttered were, ' Jesus 
 Christ, the Captain of my salvation.' Nannie is 
 now with me. She mourns the loss of her grand 
 father. It is very sad to see the tears streaming 
 from those sightless eyes, and the outspread hands 
 unconsciously reaching after the hand that has so 
 often led her faltering steps. My brother does 
 everything in his power to comfort her. His delicacy 
 
164 I WILL BE A SOLDIER. 
 
 and tenderness towards her are quite remarkable. 
 She knows his step, and brightens at his approach. 
 Alas ! she does not know why that step is at times 
 an unequal one, for he is ever the same to her. 
 
 " O, my dear cousin, is it possible that this brother 
 of mine, with this gleam of good feeling in his heart, 
 can go on to destruction ? His health must fail soon, 
 for no constitution could bear the severe treatment 
 to which his is subjected. 
 
 " Is there no way to save him ? 
 
 " With devoted attachment, ever yours, 
 
 "RUTH ROLAND. 
 
 " P. S. You may give my respects to your good 
 friend Mr. Hackerty. He deserves respect for hav 
 ing overcome faults and vices which, as a boy, 
 rendered him unworthy of such a sentiment." 
 
ALLEGIANCE. 165 
 
 CHAPTER XXVII. 
 
 ALLEGIANCE. 
 
 THE years glided away rapidly, and brought our 
 young friends to the close of their fourth year. 
 
 "Only three weeks more, and we shall have done 
 with the Military Academy of West Point," said 
 Martin. " I shall be sorry to leave, for these have 
 been altogether the most pleasant years of my life. 
 Heigh-ho ! It is n't as pleasant as I thought it would 
 be to be a man ; to be of age, once seemed to me the 
 height of human felicity." 
 
 The friends were strolling along one of their 
 favorite walks by the side of the river. 
 
 " Come, Martin, let us rest under this tree, and 
 have a good talk. Is n't it a splendid view, these 
 mountains, with their rich coloring, crimson, purple, 
 gray, brown, green, all blended together so harmo 
 niously ? See ! there is Storm-King, there Black- 
 Rock, there that magnificent river flowing on, flow 
 ing on forever, with this glorious sky overarching all! 
 
166 I WILL BE A SOLDIER. 
 
 Beautiful ! " They threw themselves upon the grass, 
 and Julius continued : " If that line, l Look through 
 Nature up to Nature's God/ had not been used ten 
 thousand, thousand times, I should use it now." 
 
 " What an enthusiast you are, Julius ! Sometimes 
 I don't quite understand you. With your refined 
 taste and love of the beautiful, you are not effemi 
 nate. With your deep religious feelings, you are not 
 gloomy. You enjoy mirth and can join in our amuse 
 ments with as much zest as any of us." 
 
 " Why should I not, when they are innocent ? I 
 used to be sad, morbidly melancholy at times ; but 
 then I was not strong and healthy. To my good 
 uncle I owe a kind Providence always understood 
 my present health and strength. He taught me to 
 swim, to ride, to fence, and dear old Sergeant Moses 
 gave me many lessons in drilling. There is no rea 
 son now why I should give way to moping melan 
 choly or to snarling misanthropy. I am a man, to 
 do a man's work in the world, and to do it heartily. 
 But, Martin, there is something more required of us. 
 If we were all body and no soul, we might make 
 good working-machines ; we might even make good 
 soldiers for fighting." 
 
 " Well, what else do we need ? " inquired Martin. 
 
ALLEGIANCE. 167 
 
 " Much more. We are immortal beings, as you 
 know ; we have our own souls to care for, and in 
 time may have to look after the welfare of others. 
 Who more needs to be prepared to give an account 
 to God at a moment's warning, than the soldier? 
 Who is more in danger of forgetting all the good 
 resolutions he has formed, than the soldier in camp ? 
 Now, Martin, I am not satisfied to leave West Point 
 without becoming openly a professor of that religion 
 which alone can make me fit to live and fit to die. 
 Many times I should have spoken to you on this 
 subject, but did not because I had not the moral 
 courage. I was afraid you, like many others, might 
 call it cant. The ring that my dear cousin Ruth gave 
 me had for its motto, ' Moral Courage.' My finger has 
 grown so large since she placed this ring there, that 
 it presses into it, and I cannot remove it ; whenever 
 I feel the pressure, it is a warning to me that I am 
 deficient in this quality." 
 
 " You are superstitious, Julius," said Martin, 
 laughing. 
 
 " Not so ; it is my conscience that hurts me ; it is 
 the outward pressure that suggests the reason for the 
 conscience prick, want of moral courage. I have 
 long since resolved to come forward and acknowledge 
 
168 I WILL BE A SOLDIER. 
 
 myself a soldier of Christ, but have not had the 
 courage to do so. Next Sunday the Bishop will be 
 at our church for confirmation. I do not know that 
 any one else is to be confirmed, but it is my inten 
 tion, and Martin I wish you would join me." 
 
 " I can't go that ! " exclaimed Martin. "I am not 
 fit for it." 
 
 "Neither am I, if perfection were required. How 
 infinitely far am I from it ! But it is as a help to 
 walking in the right way. I have looked into the 
 matter earnestly and prayerfully. My mother in 
 structed me faithfully on this subject, and I promised 
 her solemnly that, through God's help, I would be a 
 Christian." 
 
 " I believe you are ; what else could have kept 
 you straight all the way through these four years ? 
 "Who else would have influenced me, borne with me, 
 forgiven me, and loved me, as you have done? Who 
 but a sincere Christian ? I don't see, Julius, that 
 there is any need of your coming out publicly to 
 make a profession." 
 
 " I feel the need of it ; and I am exceedingly sorry 
 that, when I am not ' ashamed to confess the faitli of 
 Christ crucified,' you will not be with me, to take the 
 vow l manfully to fight under his banner, against sin, 
 
ALLEGIANCE. 169 
 
 the world, and the devil ; and to continue Christ's 
 faithful soldier and servant unto your life's end.' " 
 
 " It will not separate us as friends," said Martin. 
 
 " No, indeed," replied Julius, warmly ; " you have 
 done me a thousand acts of kindness since we have 
 been here. How often have you shielded me from 
 ridicule by your ready wit ! How many times you 
 have stood by me, when I found it difficult alone 
 to stem the torrent of vice threatening to bear me 
 away! Yes, we have stood shoulder to shoulder, 
 and have gone heart and hand together; nothing 
 but death can part us now. Our pledge at the 
 beginning was 'for better, for worse.' I have not 
 been all to you, Martin, that I wish I had been. 
 Forgive me where I have failed in word or deed." 
 
 For the first time for years the eyes of Martin 
 moistened with deep feeling. He hastily brushed 
 away the tears, and exclaimed : " O Julius ! don't 
 say that ! What have I to forgive ? I never can 
 express what I owe to you. Let us still be Da 
 mon and Pythias." 
 
 "Or David and Jonathan," said Julius, with a 
 bright smile. " Do you remember how much you 
 were amused when I chose David for my hero on 
 my fourteenth birthday?" 
 8 
 
170 I WILL BE A SOLDIER. 
 
 " I do indeed, and how I ridiculed it ; even 
 then I had a respect for you, and was ashamed of 
 myself." 
 
 " I copied out some stanzas of a poem the other 
 day, Martin, for you. I think, if you realized what 
 aid and comfort there is in prayer, you would avail 
 yourself of it very frequently. I think nothing 
 else is needed now to enable you to come out 
 openly as a Christian." 
 
 " You think too highly of me, Julius ; much 
 better than I deserve," said Martin, seriously, as 
 he took the copy of verses, and put it in his pocket. 
 
 " I suppose we all appear better to others than 
 we do to ourselves," said Julius. " Come, it is 
 almost time for evening parade, and almost our last 
 parade here." 
 
 They sprang from the ground, and hastened away. 
 
 THE STANZAS 
 
 " To prayer! to prayer! for the morning breaks, 
 And earth in her Maker's smile awakes. 
 His light is on all, below and above, 
 The light of gladness, and life, and love. 
 0, then, on the breath of this early air, 
 Send up the incense of grateful prayer! 
 
ALLEGIANCE. 171 
 
 " To prayer ! for the glorious sun is gone, 
 And the gathering darkness of night comes on 
 Like a curtain from God's kind hand it flows, 
 To shade the couch where his children repose. 
 Then kneel while the watching stars are bright, 
 And give your last thoughts to the guardian of night. 
 
 " To prayer ! for the day that God has blest 
 Comes tranquilly on with its welcome rest; 
 It speaks of creation's early bloom, 
 It speaks of the Prince who burst the tomb. 
 Then summon the spirit's exalted powers, 
 And devote to Heaven the hallowed hours. 
 
 " Kneel down by the dying sinner's side, 
 And pray for his soul, through Him who died. 
 Large drops of anguish are thick on his brow ; 
 0, what are earth and its pleasures now ? 
 And what shall assuage his dark despair, 
 But the penitent cry of humble prayer? 
 
 " Kneel down at the couch of departing faith, 
 And hear the last words the believer saith. 
 He has bidden adieu to his earthly friends ; 
 There is peace in his eye that upward bends, 
 There is peace in his calm, confiding air ; 
 For his last thoughts are God's ; his last words, prayer. 
 
 " The voice of prayer at the sable bier, 
 A voice to sustain, to soothe, and to cheer. 
 It commends the spirit to God who gave, 
 It lifts the thoughts from the cold, dark grave ; 
 
172 I WILL BE A SOLDIER. 
 
 It points to the glory where He shall reign 
 Who whispered, ' Thy brother shall rise again.* 
 
 " The voice of prayer in the world of bliss ! 
 But gladder, purer than rose from this, 
 The ransomed shout to their glorious King, 
 Where no sorrow shades the soul as they sing; 
 But a sinless and joyous song they raise, 
 And their voice of prayer is eternal praise. 
 
 " Awake ! awake ! and gird up thy strength 
 To join that holy band at length: 
 To Him who unceasing love displays, 
 Whom the powers of nature unceasingly praise, 
 To Him thy heart and thy hours be given, 
 For a life of prayer is the life of heaven." 
 
 It was the last Sunday that the class, about to 
 leave West Point, would ever all meet together 
 again in this world. Those strong, high-hearted 
 soldiers, about to depart from the beautiful spot 
 where they had been sheltered and nurtured by 
 the paternal government of the United States, were 
 all gathered to the house of prayer. Their alle 
 giance to the government, their loyalty to their 
 country, no one doubted. How was it with their 
 allegiance to Heaven, their loyalty to God? 
 
 Some were present who had taken that oath of 
 allegiance before men and angels ; Julius now 
 
ALLEGIANCE. 173 
 
 came forward with a slow but firm step, and knelt 
 at the chancel alone. There was breathless silence 
 throughout the chapel. Scarcely a moment had 
 passed when some one knelt beside him. Julius 
 did not know who it was, but he felt in his heart 
 of hearts that it was Martin. 
 
174 I WILL BE A SOLDIER. 
 
 CHAPTER XXVIII. 
 
 NO. 1 AND NO. 5. 
 
 THE final examination of the class to which Ju 
 lius and Martin belonged was over, and the report 
 rendered. 
 
 It did not surprise any one but himself that 
 Julius Farley was No. 1. Everybody (our readers 
 included) expected it would be so. How could it 
 be otherwise ? He had been richly gifted with 
 mathematical talent ; but instead of considering 
 himself a genius, and relying upon that for success, 
 his application to that study, and all others required 
 of him, had been constant and intense. His integ 
 rity of character, and habitual observance of all 
 the rules of the Academy, had won for him the 
 entire approbation of the professors, and every 
 officer was ready to greet him as an honor to the 
 profession. Among his classmates there were some 
 who envied him ; yet, on the whole, they concluded 
 he might as well be No. 1 as anybody else. Why 
 
NO. 1 AND NO. 5. 175 
 
 not? He had never assumed any superiority over 
 them. He had ever been polite and courteous. 
 Moreover, he was never mean. If there was any 
 thing they detested, it was meanness. Julius Far 
 ley was generous and whole-souled. He was not 
 self-indulgent ; but when they needed aid, even 
 pecuniary aid, he was ready to give it. Thus they 
 reasoned, to Martin's great satisfaction. 
 
 When Martin received No. 5 as his grade, he 
 was surprised, exceedingly surprised ; he had ex 
 pected 8 or 10. 
 
 " Why, Jule, my good fellow," said he, ." I am 
 set up for life. I shall have a fair start. My 
 father, who has spared me from the farm when 
 he really needed me, will be delighted. He was 
 afraid to trust me at West Point, on account of 
 my love of mischief and my fiery temper. If you 
 hadn't poured on cold water, now and then, I 
 should have burnt myself out of the Academy 
 long ago. Hurrah for No. 5 ! " and Martin threw 
 his cap in the air with proud exultation, and again 
 shouted, " Hurrah for No. 5 ! " 
 
 " Lieutenant Martin, boyish as ever," said Julius, 
 amused with his friend's violent demonstrations of 
 satisfaction. 
 
176 I WILL BE A SOLDIER. 
 
 " Boyish as ever ! " replied Martin ; " I always 
 mean to be a boy in some respects. Nothing will 
 keep down my hilarity but misfortune or disgrace." 
 
 " I like to see you joyous and natural ; you 
 wouldn't be my Martin otherwise," said Julius. 
 
 " You are provokingly calm, especially consid 
 ering you are first in our class." 
 
 " The honor is so much beyond my merit, that I 
 feel humbled by it," replied Julius, with serious sin 
 cerity. 
 
 "In the words of an old play," said Martin, "'your 
 modesty is a candle to your merit.' " 
 
 " My first thought, on the announcement of my 
 success, was of my mother, as yours was of your 
 father. To her I am indebted for my early training ; 
 for her sake, I tried to overcome my faults ; for her 
 sake, I studied ; for her sake, I wished for success ; 
 and now that she is gone, and cannot be gratified by 
 knowing that I have so far succeeded, I feel sad. 
 How few there are to sympathize with me, either in 
 joy or in sorrow ! " 
 
 " Why, my dear fellow, you will be overwhelmed 
 with congratulations. Then there is that dear witch 
 of a cousin, Ruth Roland; her congratulations will 
 be worth all the rest. I hope she will not despise 
 
NO 1 AND NO. 5. 177 
 
 No. 5. Come, now, Jule ; hold up your head high, 
 and receive all congratulations, real or feigned, as 
 though you knew you deserved them. You are too 
 humble by half. It is the worst fault you have." 
 
 A sad smile passed over the fine features of Julius 
 as he replied: "You don't know the. trouble I have 
 to keep down the monster Pride from ruling and 
 reigning in this wicked heart." 
 
 " You keep him as much out of sight as the Mino 
 taur was in the Labyrinth," said Martin, taking him 
 by the arm. " Come," continued he, " let us enjoy . 
 together, once more, the magnificent view from Fort 
 Putnam." 
 
178 I WILL BE A SOLDIER. 
 
 CHAPTER XXIX. 
 
 A TRAITOR FOILED. 
 
 AMONG the Examining Committee at- West Point 
 was Major John Hillsale. He had gained much im 
 portant information respecting Julius from various 
 
 sources since they parted at the House, New 
 
 York, but there had been no direct communication 
 between them till they met at the examination. 
 
 "When that was over, the Major warmly congratu 
 lated Julius, and expressed intense pleasure at the 
 renewal of their acquaintance. It was not recipro 
 cal. Julius had retained a very indistinct remem 
 brance of a man who had addressed him on the steps 
 of the hotel, and had acknowledged great indebted 
 ness to him. So much was he occupied with the 
 thought of the one whom he had really saved from 
 the burning steamboat at that time, that he scarcely 
 remembered the man whom he had aided in a des 
 perate struggle to reach the shore. But here was 
 the very man, claiming intimacy and professing 
 friendship. 
 
A TRAITOR FOILED. 179 
 
 The Major solicited a private interview, and in 
 vited Julius to his room at the hotel. When there, 
 he asked Julius to be seated, and then called for 
 wine. When it came, Julius declined the offered 
 civility, much to the surprise of Major Hillsale, who 
 considered it an indispensable mark of a gentleman 
 to drink freely, but not intemperately. 
 
 " What I am about to say to you is in perfect con 
 fidence," said the Major, holding up his glass and 
 looking lovingly at its amber-like clearness and color. 
 " I trust I may depend upon your honor, Lieutenant 
 Farley, not to mention this conversation." 
 
 " Most assuredly," was the reply. 
 
 "I understand you are a native of South Caro 
 lina." 
 
 " I was born there ; my father was a Carolinian, 
 I believe," replied Julius, much surprised. 
 
 " I am sure he was ; you ought to be very proud 
 of your birthplace." 
 
 " My father died when I was very young. Was 
 he a friend of yours, sir ? " inquired Julius. 
 
 "I was not acquainted with him; it is enough 
 
 for me to know he was, like myself, a Carolinian, 
 
 to secure my favor for you, even if I were not 
 
 deeply indebted to you," said the Major in the 
 
 " most bland and insinuating manner. 
 
180 I WILL BE A SOLDIER. 
 
 "My mother was a native of Massachusetts/' 
 said Julius, with sparkling eyes and evident en 
 thusiasm. 
 
 The Major raised the wineglass again, and ex- 
 aimed its contents to conceal a .frown. 
 
 "You are a Southerner by birth," said he, "and 
 I trust the time will come when you will bravely 
 acknowledge it." 
 
 "I did not deny it," replied Julius, calmly. 
 "Pardon me, I do not understand why you attach 
 so much importance to the fact of my Southern 
 birth." 
 
 "The North and the South cannot always re 
 main together as one country. There are distinct 
 and diverse interests and institutions which will 
 eventually lead to their separation." 
 
 "Never!" exclaimed Julius with extreme warmth. 
 "Never! The thought is treason." 
 
 " I tell you, solemnly, that the separation must 
 come, and when it does, I wish you to be on our 
 side. You have property there ; you would rise 
 much faster in a Southern army; you would be 
 among gentlemen by birth and education." 
 
 Julius's eye flashed angrily as he started up and 
 exclaimed : " T belong to the. United States of 
 
A TRAITOR FOILED. 181 
 
 America, and not to any particular State, be it 
 South Carolina or Massachusetts. I owe allegiance 
 to the government that has educated me, to defend 
 it by arms against all assaults from foes without 
 or foes within ; and never, to my latest breath, will 
 I prove false to my country." 
 
 " You are vehement, my young friend ; the 
 South is your country, your very warmth proves 
 it. And a beautiful country it is, genial and fruit 
 ful ; not like the crabbed, frozen North, where men 
 toil all their lives for a poor pittance, or get rich 
 by penny-saving, by hook and by crook, mean 
 shopkeepers, meaner mechanics. The aristocratic 
 gentlemen of the South will claim you as their 
 own ; you have nothing in common with the low 
 bred, tinkering North." 
 
 " Sir, you forget that my sainted mother was a 
 Northerner ; I am at least gentleman enough to 
 reverence her memory, and to feel indignant to 
 hear my relations and friends spoken of in this 
 contemptuous manner." 
 
 " Pardon me, I did not intend to speak disre 
 spectfully of your mother. * A noble mother must 
 have borne so brave a son,' " said Major Hillsale, 
 with a respectful bow. 
 
182 I WILL BE A SOLDIER. 
 
 " As for gentlemen, Major Hillsale, I should be 
 proud to belong to the same class as John Quincy 
 Adams, Daniel Webster, and Edward Everett," re 
 plied Julius. 
 
 " Yet you must confess that Yankees, as a whole, 
 are more mean, less hospitable, and less refined 
 than your own people, the Southern born." 
 
 " I confess no such thing ! I venerate the name 
 of Yankee, and boast of it as did the Roman of old, 
 when he exultingly cried, ' I am a Roman citizen.' " 
 
 "You are violent, young man. I thought you 
 claimed to belong to the country, and not to any sec 
 tion," said the Major, tauntingly. 
 
 " I do so ; the name of Yankee belongs to every 
 one of my fellow-countrymen who deserves the hon 
 ored name. You may boast of your institutions; 
 sir, I blush for my country, when I think of one of 
 them, the dark blot upon our escutcheon." 
 
 "Young man, you are trespassing on forbidden 
 ground," said the Major, passionately. 
 
 " The pecular institutions of the South are as open 
 to criticism as are the peculiar institutions of the 
 North, its colleges, schools, commerce, and manu 
 factures," retorted Julius. 
 
 " Come, come, my young friend, be calm, listen 
 to reason." 
 
A TRAITOR FOILED. 183 
 
 Julius dropped into the chair from which he had 
 risen, and placed himself in the attitude of a listener. 
 
 "The government of the United States has been 
 exceedingly oppressive to the Southern States ; these 
 oppressive measures will in time become unendur 
 able. The States whose interests and institutions 
 are widely different from those of the North will be 
 obliged to join together, and separate themselves, 
 peaceably if possible, if not, by force of arms. This 
 crisis must come. Our beloved statesman, Calhoun, 
 heard * the rushing of the wings of time,' aftd his pro 
 phetic voice sounded the alarm. That crisis is ap 
 proaching. When it comes, you ought to be on the 
 side of your native State. There you may rise rap 
 idly in our army." 
 
 " Sir, I cannot listen to you any longer," exclaimed 
 Julius, springing to his feet. " Is it possible that you, 
 sir, on this very spot where you received your edu 
 cation as a soldier, gratuitously, from the best govern 
 ment in the world, is it possible that, even here, 
 you are plotting treason against that government ? 
 Have you forgotten the glorious deeds that united 
 South Carolina and Massachusetts in our Revolu 
 tion ? Go to our Chapel, and see upon its walls the 
 names of Marion and Sumter with those of their 
 
184 I WILL BE A -SOLDIER. 
 
 brothers in arms and in heart, Warren, Lincoln, and 
 Putnam." 
 
 " Those times have gone by ; we must act in the 
 present. You are too warm, too violent," said the 
 Major. 
 
 " Who would not be warm when tempted to be 
 a traitor ? Have you forgotten Arnold ? On this 
 spot you may well remember him. To what a 
 glorious list are you adding your name, headed as 
 it is by that of the arch-traitor, Benedict Arnold ! " 
 
 " This is too much ; I but advocate the cause 
 of truth and justice against wrong and oppression," 
 replied the Major, rising, and looking fiercely at 
 Julius. 
 
 " Sir," continued Julius, undaunted, " because a 
 man should fancy that his mother was not well 
 used by his father, should he murder his father, 
 instead of seeking redress by law ? " 
 
 "You put a strange, a strong case," said the 
 Major, contemptuously. 
 
 " Not too strong ; for if that fearful time should 
 ever come, when the two sections of our country 
 are arrayed in opposition, it will be father against 
 son, brother against brother. Horrible ! God pre 
 serve us from such an unnatural, such a diabolical 
 
A TRAITOR FOILED. 185 
 
 strife ! Woe to the aggressors ! Why, there would 
 have been nothing like it since the rebel angels 
 fell from heaven, and doubtless from the same 
 cause, ambition/' 
 
 Julius turned and left the tempter ; like the ser 
 aph Abdiel, 
 
 " Unmoved, 
 
 Unshaken, unseduced, unterrified, 
 His loyalty he kept, his love, his zeal ; 
 ...*.. Nor example with him wrought 
 To swerve from truth, or change his constant mind." 
 
186 I WILL BE A SOLDIER. 
 
 CHAPTER XXX. 
 
 THE LAST DROP OF BRANDY. 
 
 MARTIN HACKERTY TO JULIUS FARLEY. 
 
 " I AM sorry, my dear Julius, to break in upon 
 your pleasant visit with a sad letter. 
 
 " I arrived at Elmlawn yesterday at noon. You 
 know poor Tom sent an urgent request for me to 
 come to him. Your sweet cousin Ruth met me at 
 the door, and welcomed me in her own delicate, 
 lady-like manner. She then led forward your fa 
 vorite little Nannie, saying that I was a friend of 
 her brother's. The child must be eleven or twelve 
 years old, but she is very small. You remember 
 her dark eyes and her lovely face. It surprises 
 one to find that she is totally blind. The face was 
 indeed lovely, and yet it is the saddest face that 
 ever I looked at. The dangerous illness of Tom 
 has doubtless given the expression of sadness, 
 which, I believe, is not habitual. Strange ! to this 
 child Tom was human ! even humane, kind ! Let 
 
THE LAST DROP OF BRANDY. 187 
 
 us remember this when we think of the self-ruined 
 man. What an inexpressibly mournful sight ! A 
 man just past one-and-twenty in ruins, broken 
 down, destroyed by dissipation ! A man become a 
 bundle of appetites and passions ! Alas ! such was 
 Tom Roland. 
 
 " I went back in thought to the time when I first 
 knew him, a fat, merry boy of twelve, not destitute 
 of good feeling, and professing a strong attachment 
 to me. He was, even then, extravagantly fond of 
 eating, and when you came to Elmlawn, two years 
 after, he had, you know, become a complete gorman 
 dizer. 
 
 " But why do I linger over these reminiscences ? I 
 had come to witness the closing scene. I was shown 
 into his room. I will not pain you, Julius, w;th a 
 description of that frightful, bloated being. He 
 knew me, and said, though it was difficult for him to 
 articulate : * You 've come. They tell me I am go 
 ing to die; but I don't believe it.' 
 
 " * I am sorry to find you so ill,' said I. 
 
 " ' Just pour out some brandy for me, and help 
 yourself/ he said, motioning towards a decanter 
 on a table the other side of the room. 
 
 " ' I don't drin.k brandy,' I replied. 
 
188 I WILL BE A SOLDIER. 
 
 " ' They won't give it to me ; but you will, Martin, 
 I know you will.' 
 
 " < I dare not/ 
 
 " ' Nobody will know it. I 've sent my nurse away 
 for a whole hour. Just a small wineglass full. If I 
 am going to die, it can do no harm.' 
 
 " I was troubled. What could I do ? 
 
 " ' O Martin, please give it to me,' he cried, with 
 such a look of entreaty I could not resist it. I poured 
 a wineglass half full, and asked if I should add water 
 to it. 
 
 " * No, no, clear ; give me the clear stuff,' said he, 
 in a hoarse, unnatural voice. 
 
 " It seems his throat was badly swollen. He 
 attempted to swallow the brandy, strangled, grew 
 black in the face, went into convulsions. I at 
 tempted to lift him up ; he grasped my hand, and 
 gave me such a look, such an awful look ! Noth 
 ing on earth can ever blot it from my memory. I 
 called in vain for help; he died in my arms. He 
 had gone to give up his account at the final tribunal ! 
 
 " The nurse came in. I confessed, with agonized 
 feeling, that I had hastened the departure of poor 
 Tom. She said his physician had told him that 
 morning that he could not live the day out. Still, it 
 
THE LAST DROP OF BRANDY. 189 
 
 will be a source of lasting regret to me that I gave 
 him that brandy. He might have lived a few hours 
 longer, and those hours were precious. May you 
 never be called to witness the death of a drunkard ! 
 It is too awful. 
 
 m " And now, Julius, come to your cousin Ruth with 
 out delay. She needs you to comfort and console 
 her. Alas ! what consolation can be offered ? Such 
 a life, and such a death ! What can we do but try 
 to banish Thomas Roland from memory ! Thank 
 God that we have not been drawn into the same 
 horrible vortex, and perished like him ! The funeral 
 will be delayed till your arrival. I have taken 
 lodgings at the hotel in the village, a mile and a half 
 from Elmlawn. 
 
 " I have not seen Miss Ruth since the death of her 
 brother. I cannot intrude upon sorrow so sacred. 
 As I passed out of the house, I heard a low, sad 
 wail, like the ring-dove's distant cry. It must have 
 come from poor little Nannie. 
 
 " Till I see you, and ever, my best friend, 
 
 " Gratefully and faithfully yours, 
 
 " MARTIN HACKERTY." 
 
 Julius arrived in time for the funeral. A sad 
 
190 I WILL BE A SOLDIER. 
 
 funeral indeed, with few mourners ! There was no 
 bitterness in the heart of Julius, as he stood by the 
 grave of the self-destroyer, but pity and forgiveness. 
 Yet he might have said : 
 
 " This, this is the reward 
 For hearts that are so hard, 
 That flaunt so, and adorn, 
 And pamper them, and scorn 
 To cast a thought down hither, 
 Where all things come to wither; 
 And where no resting is, and no repentance, 
 Even to the day of the last awful sentence!" 
 
FINIS. 191 
 
 CHAPTER XXXI. 
 
 FINIS. 
 
 How strange that Tom Roland should have made 
 a will! Yet he did so, the very day that he was 
 twenty-one, and had it legally witnessed. 
 
 He left Elmlawn to Ruth, " because she had never 
 scolded " him, and the remainder of his property to 
 Nannie, " because she was blind and loved him," 
 he added, " the only being on earth that loves me." 
 To Martin Hackerty, he left his watch and seal-ring. 
 
 Alas ! there must have been times when the mis-* 
 erable young man was conscious that life was wearing 
 away ; doubtless he suffered intense agony from an 
 accusing conscience, and struggled against his beset 
 ting sin without being able to conquer it. Too long 
 had he been in the merciless grasp of intemperance ; 
 even with Death before his eyes, he could not free 
 himself from the control of that insatiate monster. 
 
 Julius would have been glad to have been men 
 tioned by Tom with at least one word of kindness, 
 But Tom's heart was not softened and penitent 
 
192 I WILL BE A SOLDIER. 
 
 enough for that. The young soldier's example was 
 a constant reproach to him, not to be forgiven. 
 
 Julius had been called away suddenly from the 
 Leonardsons, but not before he had asked that the 
 life he had providentially saved might be united with 
 his own forever. When Julius had received his com 
 mission as first Lieutenant, Mary Leonardson became 
 Mary Farley. And when time had softened the sor 
 row felt by Ruth, not for the loss, but for the sad, un 
 timely death of her brother, she became the wife of 
 Martin Hackerty. 
 
 Where now are the two soldiers ? 
 
 Look among the generals now fighting in defence 
 of our beloved country, whose very life rebels would 
 destroy by lopping off its limbs ; look among our 
 valiant, loyal generals. If you find one who is tem 
 perate, reverential towards God, and submissive to 
 the highest civil authority ; brave, prudent, self-gov 
 erned, incorruptible, modest, reticent, call him Julius. 
 And if you find another general much like him, but 
 less prudent, and more vituperative towards enemies 
 at home and below, and call him Martin, dear reader, 
 you will make what we Yankees call a good guess. 
 
 THE END. 
 
POPULAR JUVENILES 
 
 PUBLISHED BY 
 
 CROSBY & NICHOLS, 
 
 117 WASHINGTON STREET, BOSTON. 
 
 ADVENTURES OF JAMES GAPEN ADAMS. 
 
 Adventures of James Capen Adams, Mountaineer and 
 Grizzly Bear Hunter of California. By THEODORE H. 
 HITTELL. With twelve illustrations from original designs. 
 1 vol. 12mo. Price, $1.25. 
 
 This is a truthful record of the life of one of the most adventurous and 
 successlul hunters ever known in the Western world. In addition, to 
 the wonderful exploits of the hardy mountaineer, it gives much interest 
 ing information respecting the Natural History of the El Dorado State, 
 and of the manners and customs of the hitherto unknown tribes inhabit 
 ing the wild mountain land of the Sierra Nevada. 
 
 "An entertaining narrative of the adventures of a Yankee Nimrod. 
 Besides the interest of the personal adventures, the book has a value as 
 containing many new facts concerning the habits of the wild animals of 
 our Western regions." Portland Transcript. 
 
 " We confess to having read every word of Adams's Adventures, and 
 with great and unflagging interest. So much so, that k Lady Washington ' 
 and ' lien Franklin ' have permanently established themselves as familiar 
 favorites in pur memory-home. We at once pronounce it a hearty, 
 stirring, life-like book, that will give a healthy quickening to the blood of 
 every man or boy who reads it." Boston Post. 
 
 ' It is written in a plain, unvarnished style, giving an exact description 
 of the toils and dangers the hero of the work went through in collecting 
 and taming the animals he is now exhibiting. It has all the interest of a 
 romance, and is known to be true in every particular." Cal. Telegraph. 
 
 " It is well written, and most fascinating in its details of the hunter's 
 life. It is almost too fascinating, reminding one more of Robinson Crusoe 
 than any work we know of." Cal. paper. 
 
 " Intensely interesting and profusely embellished. The contents are such 
 as to reflect great credit upon the talented author " San Francisco 
 Patriot. 
 
CROSBY & NICHOLS' 
 
 Adventures of James Capen Adams. 
 
LIST OF JUVENILE BOOKS. 
 
 AUDTJBON, THE NATURALIST. 
 
 Audubon, the Naturalist of the New World; his Adven 
 tures and Discoveries. By MRS. HORACE ST. JOHN. 
 i^mbellisned with numerous plates, and a portrait. Price, 
 Cloth, 75 cents. 
 
 L^r 6616 ^^ m ^V S ful1 of interest and instruction. 
 $? 7 d U1 ? weaned perseverance, it is worthy of imita- 
 mJSf of * v %y land; while his ultimkte success and world- 
 illustrate the reward which is sure to follow well-directed 
 
 tinn 
 
CROSBY & NICHOLS* 
 
 Age of Chivalry. 
 
LIST OF JUVENILE BOOKS. 7 
 
 AGE OF CHIVALRY. 
 
 The Age of Chivalry. Part 1st: King Arthur and his 
 Knights. Part 2d : The Mabinogeon ; or, Welsh Popu 
 lar Tales. By THOMAS BULFINCH. Copiously illus 
 trated. Cloth, $1.00. Cloth, gilt, or burnished edges. 
 
 $1.25. 
 
 The author has here presented the stories of the " Age of Chivalry," 
 the age which witnessed the dawn of the several States of modern 
 Europe, in such a manner as to impart the pleasures of classical learning 
 to the youthful reader, and in a form adapted to modern taste. 
 
 A WILL AND A WAT. 
 
 A Will and a Way. Tales translated from the German 
 of T. Michel and Aug. Moritz. Illustrated with numerous 
 colored plates. Price, 75 cents. Cloth, gilt, $1.00. 
 This volume contains five different tales, illustrating in a plain yet 
 
 attractive style the good old proverb that ' where there's a will there's a 
 
 way." 
 
 ARABIAN NIGHTS' ENTERTAINMENTS. 
 
 The Thousand and One Nights ; or, The Arabian Nights' 
 Entertainments. A new edition ; embellished with numer 
 ous characteristic engravings. 1 vol. 12mo. Price, $1.25. 
 This edition of these world-renowned tales is printed in a clear and 
 beautiful type, and possesses the novelty of several new illustrations from 
 original designs. It is of convenient size, comely in appearance, entirely 
 complete, and the best edition of this work now extant ibr popular use. 
 
 ALL FOR THE BEST. 
 
 All for the Best ; or, The old Peppermint Man : A Moral 
 Tale. By T. S. ARTHUR. Fifth Edition. Price, 50 
 
 cents. 
 
 This story affords, in the experience of" Old Andrew Hardy," a pleasant 
 illustration of the truth of the proverb which serves as its title, and is one oi 
 the happiest efforts of its distinguished author. 
 
 A STRIKE FOR FREEDOM. 
 
 A Strike for Freedom ; or, Law and Order. A Book for 
 Boys. By Mrs. L. C. TUTHILL. Fifteenth Edition. 
 Price, 38 cents. 
 
 Here are good earnest words inculcating truly noble precepts, inter 
 woven with the attractions of a story. The book teaches the absolute 
 necessity of " Law and Order " in all the departments of life, with special 
 reference to the young. 
 
 ANYTHING FOR SPORT. 
 
 Anything for Sport. By Mrs. L. C. TUTHILL. Sixteenth 
 Edition. Price, 38 cents. 
 
 This is another of Mrs. Tuthill's admirable juveniles, illustrating the 
 advantages of being " Merry and Wise." 
 
8 CROSBY & NICHOLS* 
 
 ALPHABET OF ANIMALS. 
 
 The Illustrated Alphabet of Animals. With twenty-seven 
 plates. Price, 25 cents. 
 
 This is an attractive volume for young children, and rendered doubly 
 useful by the beautiful plates. They greatly Bassist the memory of the 
 youug learner. 
 
 ALPHABET OF BIRDS. 
 
 The Elustrated Alphabet of Birds. With twenty-seven 
 plates. Price, 25 cents. 
 
 This volume is similar to the preceding, containing illustrations of the 
 feathered tribe, with descriptions of their peculiarities and habits. 
 
 ANNIE AND THE ELVES. 
 
 Annie and the Elves, and other Stories. Six illustrations. 
 Price, 25 cents. 
 
 This volume contains five different stories, printed in large type, 
 designed for those just commencing to read. 
 
 ALL ABOARD. 
 
 All Aboard ; or, Life on the Lake. By OLIVER OPTIC. 
 Illustrated. Price, 63 cents. 
 
 A fascinating and highly instructive story. The author has endeavored 
 to show " that the path of truth and rectitude is not only the safest, but 
 the pleasantest path." The style is peculiarly attractive, and no one can 
 lay the book down without an earnest desire to resume it again. 
 
 ARBELL'S SCHOOL DAYS. 
 
 ArbeH's School Days. By JANE WINNARD HOOPER. 
 With illustrations by JAMES GODWIN. Price, 75 cents. 
 
 This is an intensely interesting book for girls, giving a vivid and 
 truthful picture of school-life, the value of correct and exalted principles 
 of action, and shows how a stifled conscience is a most uncomfortable 
 tenant. 
 
 A NEW FLOWER FOR CHILDREN. 
 
 A New Flower for Children. By L. MARIA CHILD. 
 Illustrated. Price, $1.00. 
 
 Like a previous "Flower" from the same hand, this will dispense a 
 sweet and grateful fragrance wherever it goes. The farewell wish of the 
 authoress to her young readers will doubtless find an abundant fulfilment, 
 and it "will prove a perennial blessing to their hearts" and leave 
 fragrance in their memories. 
 
LIST OF JUVENILE BOOKS. 
 
 Arbell's School Days. 
 
10 CROSBY & NICHOLS' 
 
 BOY OF MOUNT RHIGL 
 
 The Boy of Mount Rhigi. By Miss C. M. SEDGWICK, 
 author of " Redwood," " Poor Rich Man," " Home," etc., 
 etc. Price, 63 cenis. 
 
 This is one of the very best books for the young ever written. " Do the 
 duty nearest to you," is its motto, and weaving this precept with the fasci 
 nation of a story, the author inculcates the value of truth, honesty, fidelity, 
 industry, and a pure example, and the action of hope and patience and 
 kindness to all, especially to the poor and unfortunate. 
 
 BELLE AND LILLY. 
 
 Belle and Lilly ; or, The Golden Rule. A Story for Girls. 
 Embellished with six colored illustrations. Price, 75 
 cents. 
 
 The incidents in the story of" Belle and Lilly " are drawn from real life. 
 It beautifully illustrates some of the pleasantest phases of child-life, and 
 shows the perennial source of happiness in being kind to companions, and 
 doing good to those among whom we dwell. 
 
 BOY OF SPIRIT. 
 
 The Boy of Spirit. A Story for the Young. Illustrated. 
 Price, 38 cents. 
 
 This story pictures a truly manly spirit, the difference between rash 
 ness and bravery; the pernicious effects of a hot and ungoverned tem 
 per, and the happy fruits of forbearance and patience. 
 
 BEARS OF AITGVSTUSBITRG. 
 
 The Bears of Augustusburg. An Episode in Saxon His 
 tory. With other Tales. Numerous Colored Plates. 
 Price, 75 cents. fc 
 
 This is a book of exciting interest. A wholesome Saxon story ; fresh 
 and vigorous in style, and lull of interest, with two popular German tales 
 appended. 
 
 BOA CONSTRICTOR. 
 
 The Boa Constrictor, and other Stories. Illustrated. 
 Price, 25 cents. 
 
 Two or three instructive stories, pleasantly told, with several hymns and 
 stories in verse prettily illustrated 
 
 BOARDING SCHOOL GIRL. 
 
 The Boarding School Girl. By Mrs. TUTHILL. Illustra 
 ted. Price, 38 cents. 
 
 This little book has already passed through numerous editions, which 
 sufficiently attests its popularity. It sketches the haps and mishaps of a 
 " Boarding School Girl," and shows the lasting benefit of a good 
 example. 
 
LIST OF JUVENILE BOOKS. 
 
 11 
 
 INSTINCT OF ANIMALS. 
 
 Stories about the Instincts of Animals, their Characters 
 and Habits. By THOMAS BINGLEY. With Numerous 
 Engravings, from drawings by Landseer. Price, 50 cents. 
 
 This is a most instructive and interesting book, containing just the infor 
 mation that every child should possess. It treats of the habits and pecu 
 liarities of various animals, domestic and wild, with illustrative anec 
 dotes, full of entertainment of the pleasantest kind. 
 
 BOAT CLUB. 
 
 The Boat Club : or, The Bunkers of KIppleton. A Tale 
 for Boys. By OLIVER OPTIC. Price, 63 cents. 
 
 Just the kind of a book that every boy likes to read and re-read, 
 and keep. It combines healthy moral lessona with the exciting interest 
 of a story 
 
12 CROSBY & NICHOLS' 
 
 BERQUI3TS CHILDREN'S FRIEND. 
 
 The Children's Friend. From the French of M. BER 
 QUIN. With thirty illustrations. Complete in one vol 
 ume. Price, $1.00. 
 
 This admirable book is too well known to need any words of commen 
 dation here. Among all writers in this department. Berquin stands unri 
 valled and unapproached. All his little dramatic scenes abound with a 
 touching liveliness and pathos which throw a charm over every admoni 
 tion : divesting virtue of all austerity, and rendering it enticing. 
 
 It is well known that the most honorable prize, offered by the Eoyal 
 French Academy, for the most useful book for youth, was awarded lo M. 
 Berquin for the composition of the Children's Friend. 
 
 CHRISTMAS EVE. 
 
 The Christmas Eve, and other stories, from the German. 
 Illustrated. Price, 50 cents. 
 
 This book contains several pleasing stories, appropriately illustrated. 
 Printed in large type, on clean white paper. 
 
 CHILDHOOD OF MARY LEE SON. 
 
 The Childhood of Mary Leeson. By MARY HOWITT. 
 Illustrated. Price, 38 cents. 
 
 It shows the importance of correct early education, inculcating as 
 " foundation stones," " truth, obedience, and love," and is full of interest 
 to young and old. 
 
 CHILDREN'S TRIALS. 
 
 Children's Trials ; or, The Little Rope-Dancers, and other 
 Tales. Six Colored Plates. Price, 75 cents 
 
 Here are five different tales, following the fortunes of a band of noble 
 and faithful children, with their trials and ultimate rewards. A book full 
 of encouragement. 
 
 CO ITSINHA TTYS HYMNS AND STORIES. 
 
 Cousin Hatty's Hymns and Twilight Stories. Profusely 
 illustrated. Price, 50 cents. 
 
 Many of the endeared and familiar hymns of childhood are here pre 
 served, with others that are new and equally pleasing. 
 
 CORAL ISLAND. 
 
 The Coral Island. A Tale of the Pacific Ocean. By 
 ROBERT MICHAEL BALL ANT YNE; with original illustra 
 tions by the Author. Price, 75 cents. 
 
 The adventures here recorded are those of the author while he was yet 
 ft boy. It is full of valuable information; and presents an unfailing source 
 of pleasure, profit, and unbounded amusement. 
 
LIST OP JUVENILE BOOKS. 
 
 13 
 
 EDGEWORTH'S EARLJ LESSONS. 
 
 Miss Edgeworth's Early Lessons. By Miss MARIA EDGE- 
 WORTH. 5 vols. Cloth, 75 cents each. 
 
14 CROSBY & NICHOLS' 
 
 This Series is composed of the following books, neatly packed in a box : 
 Frank. 
 
 Sequel to Frank. 
 Kosamond. 
 Harry and Lucy. 
 
 " Concluded. 
 
 The taste of the age, especially as regards juvenile literature, has of late 
 years undergone a material change, ai d that change in many respects is 
 infinitely for the better. Such stories as " Jack, the Giant Killer," " Tom 
 Thumb," and " Sinbad the Sailor," were formerly among the allurements 
 presented to the rising generation. A new era has begun to dawn. A 
 change has come over the human mind, and the readers of light literature 
 have uegun to think that " Fictions, to please, si on Id ^oear the face of 
 truth ? " Among the most prominent of writers who have appeared on 
 the arena of juvenile literature, and whose works have had the greatest 
 influence in promoting the cause of education and social morality, was the 
 talented authoress. Miss Edgeworth, whose works are now presented to 
 the public in a form so popular as to render them universally acceptable 
 to the reading public. In them are embodied the purest principles of 
 moral rectitude, conveyed in the pleasing guise of interesting fiction, and 
 clothed in the attractive garb of virtue and truth. Her delightful task 
 has been 
 
 "To pour the fresh instruction o'er the mind, 
 To breathe the enlivening spirit, and to fix 
 The generous purpose in the glowing breast." 
 
 The authoress has endeavored to add something to the increasing stock 
 of innocent amusement and early instruction which the exertions of 
 modern writers provide for the rising generation; and in the present 
 works an attempt is made to provide for young people a few Tales that 
 shall neither dissipate the attention nor inflame the imagination. 
 
 ELLEN STANLEY. 
 
 Ellen Stanley and other Stories. Ninth Edition. Illus 
 trated. Price, 38 cents. 
 
 This is a collection of more than twenty pleasing tales, each designed 
 to convey some useful and moral truth to the mind. 
 
 ESKDALE HEED-BOY. 
 
 The Eskdale Herd-Boy. A Scottish Tale, for the instruc 
 tion and amusement of young persons. By LADY STOD- 
 DART (Mrs. Blackford). Illustrated. Price, 50 cents. 
 
 This fascinating story, delineating truthfully and forcibly certain phases 
 of Scottish life and character, is taken from circumstances which fell 
 under the personal observation of the author. It illustrates the perma 
 nent advantages of early integrity and gratitude; the necessity of subdu 
 ing a turbulent and self-willed temper, and the inestimable value of filial 
 affection and obedience. 
 
 FRANK WILDMAWS AD VENTURES. 
 
 Frank Wildman's Adventures on Land and Water. With 
 eight beautiful illustrations, printed in oil colors. Price, 
 $1.25. 
 
LIST OF JUVENILE BOOKS. 
 
 15 
 
 TOOK THING I IT IS HURT" SAID MISS LESLIE, "IT CANNOT FLY,'' 
 
 Ellen Stanley, page 59. 
 
16 CROSBY & NICHOLS' 
 
 This is one of those books which once taken up is never laid aside until 
 the reader finds the conclusion. It abounds in thrilling adventure and 
 stirring scenes on land and sea ; narrated in a graphic and really entertain 
 ing style. It is illustrated in finely illuminated colors, with drawings 
 that harmonize peculiarly with the spirit of the book. 
 
 GEOEDIE AND HIS DOG. 
 
 Geordie and his Dog, and other Stories. Numerous 
 plates. Price, 50 cents. 
 
 A package of gems for the little folks ; prose and poetry and pleasing 
 pictures. 
 
 GRIMM'S POPULAR TALES AND HOUSE 
 HOLD STORIES. 
 
 Collected by the BROTHERS GRIMM. Newly translated, 
 with nearly 200 illustrations by Edward H. Wehnert. 
 First and second series, in 2 vols. Price, $2.50. 
 
 " The stories in these volumes are world-renowned, and they will continue 
 to be read as they long have been in different languages, and to charm and 
 delight, not only the young, but many readers in mature life, who love the 
 recollections of childhood and its innocent diversions. In all children 
 there is a love of story, which nothing but stories will satisfy, and such a 
 collection as we here have is a kind of reservoir from which the family 
 story-teller or the children themselves may draw for amusement, at any and 
 all fitting seasons. Such volumes as these we regard as appropriate for 
 the household library, to be read aloud for the common entertainment by 
 some member of the family, or devoured in some leisure moment, by the 
 eager child in solitude, according as circumstances may decide. The style 
 in which the present publishers have brought out these stories is in accord 
 ance with the demands of the age. 
 
 " Once upon a time, when we were a boy, we fell in with a book which, to 
 our youthful fancy, contained the most wonderful, delightful, and soul- 
 entrancing stories we had ever heard or dreamed of. There, for example, 
 was "Hie story of JRumpel-stilts-ken, or the Musicians of Bremen; to wit, 
 the Ass. the Dog, the Cat, and the Cock; of the Fisherman, his wife Alice, 
 and the Old Man of the Sea, the Three Little Tales about Toads and mdny 
 others. After the first reading, the book in question disappeared, and 
 although we subsequently sought for it dilige u lly, and wearied older 
 heads with the pertinacious requests, that when they next went to the city 
 they would bring home the liumpel-stilts-ken books, it never came, and 
 its existence seemed to us to have found a place with the ''Lost Arts," A 
 day or two ago, the long-sought-for volume unexpectedly " turned up " in 
 the shape of Grimm's Popular Tales and Household Stories, or German 
 Stories, by the Brothers Grimm, first and second series; containing not 
 only the stories we have mentioned, but many others equally marvellous, 
 such as " Hans the Hedge Hog," " The Goose Girl," ' The Wren and the 
 Bear." Whereat we rejoiced exceedingly, and in the exuberance of our 
 feelings, we now deliberately affirm that of all the children's books (adapted 
 to old and young growth) published for many a day, there are none in our 
 Judgment which contain so inexhaustible a fund of enjoyment as these com 
 ical tales and stories. If you would secure for yourself a heritage in the 
 memory of some younker, which will live and keep green when more sub 
 stantial favors are forgotten, look at Grimm's Popular Tales before making 
 jnour holiday investment." Troy Paper. 
 
LIST OF JUVENILE BOOKS. 
 
 17 
 
 HAPPY DAYS. 
 
 Happy Days. By the Author of " Helen and Maria/' 
 etc. Illustrated. Price, 38 cents. 
 
 Stories of the "Happy Days " of childhood, and teaching how they 
 may be made to last. 
 
18 CROSBY & NICHOLS' 
 
 HOLL Y AND MISTLETOE. 
 
 Holly and Mistletoe. Tales translated from the German 
 of ROSALIE KOCH. Colored Plates. Price, 75 cents. 
 
 Among our forefathers, Holly and Mistletoe were ever emblematic of 
 the freshness and warmth to be kept living in the heart by Christian love 
 when all nature without lies cold and dead. The several tales here pre 
 sented are written in an interesting, simple, and easy style, and carry at 
 the same time lasting lessons for good. " All persons, of whatever age, 
 will find them to be pleasant and profitable reading." 
 
 HUDSON'S EA Y. 
 
 Hudson's Bay ; 0$, Every-day Life in the Wilds of North 
 America. By ROBERT M. BALLANTYNE. Illustrated. 
 Price, 75 cents. 
 
 The author of this book resided for six years in the territories of the 
 Hudson's Bay Company, and speaks from his own experience and 
 observation. The subject is comparatively a new one, and the delinea 
 tion of the every-day life of those people of whom the narrators of Arc 
 tic discovery have rarely made mention, is full of interest, novelty, and 
 amusement. The illustrations are from drawings made on the spot by 
 the author. 
 
 HURRAH FOR NEW ENGLAND. 
 
 Hurrah for New England ; or, The Virginia Boy's Vaca 
 tion. By the Author of "The Boy of Spirit." Six 
 teenth Edition. Illustrated. Price, 38 cents. 
 
 This little book gives an entertaining account of a visit of a Virginia 
 boy to New England; his excursion to Maiblehead, and thence on board 
 a "fishing-smack" to the "Banks;" with an amusing record of the 
 voyage, and his opinion of the Boston " Lions." The book is crowded 
 with incidents, which afford an unceasing variety, and are exceedingly 
 entertaining. 
 
 HUME AH FOR THE HOLIDAYS. 
 
 Hurrah for the Holidays ; or, The Pleasures and Pains of 
 Freedom. Six colored plates. Price, 75 cents. 
 
 . ast the book for boys; full of spirit and life: chaste and elegant in 
 style; inculcating lessons of noble generosity and industry. 
 
 J WILL BE A LADY. 
 
 I will be a Lady. A Book for Girls. By Mrs. TUTHILL. 
 Thirty-eighth Edition. Illustrated. Price 38 cents. 
 
 Not a dull, prosy book of advice, but giving in the fascinating style of 
 the gifted author, in the history of Beulah Morris, the all-pervading prin 
 ciples which mark the true lady. " Worthy to be perused by the old and 
 young." 
 
LIST OF JUVENILE BOOKS. 
 
 19 
 
 I WILL BE A GENTLEMAN. 
 
 I will be a Gentleman. A Book for Boys. By Mrs. 
 TUTHILL. Thirty-seventh Edition. Illustrated. Price, 
 38 cents. 
 
 An admirable book, \vhich every boy and young man should read. 
 False gentility is here stripped of its tinsel ornaments, and the value of 
 honest good sense and manly honor is made to appear. 
 
20 CROSBY & NICHOLS' 
 
 JACK IN THE FORECASTLE. 
 
 Jack in the Forecastle ; or, Incidents in the Early Life of 
 Hawser Martingale. Illustrated. Price, $1.25. 
 
 " This book " (we quote from the preface) " contains a plain and faithful 
 account of the cruises, rambles, and adventures of the writer during eight 
 years of his early life." The author is the Hon. John S. Sleeper, recently 
 editor of the Boston Journal. It is a book of rare merit and thrilling in 
 terest, and fully exemplifies the old adage that " truth is stranger than 
 fiction." 
 
 " More engaging and instructive, we must say, than any other book of 
 the kind we nave ever taken up.". ..." The author indulges in no rhetorical 
 exaggerations, fancy sketches, or slang phrases, but in loyalty to truth and 
 in charming simplicity, describes the scenes and experiences of his life." 
 B. H. Aurora. 
 
 "We speak from our own experience when we say that nobody who 
 commences the reading of it will willingly leave off till the ' finis " of the 
 admirable narrative is reached, and then only with the wish that there was 
 more.". ..." We do not know of its superior among works of this class " 
 Ind. Dem. 
 
 " It is an interesting book for old or young, and contains much that is 
 instructive as well as pleasing." Dover Gazette. 
 
 " The author of this book is not only well acquainted with the ropes of 
 a ship, but is an adept of no ordinary skill in the art and mystery ot pen 
 craft.". ..." He is always instructive though never didactic, and full of 
 vivacity and good-humor, though free from conceit and flippancy. His 
 book possesses a more substantial character than might be anticipated from 
 its free and easy title." N. Y. Tribune. 
 
 "A very handsome and interesting volume." Salem Observer. 
 
 *' It is a very interesting book The reader will rise from its perusal with 
 
 a better knowledge of the sailor and increased respect for those who do 
 business upon the mighty deep " E. Mail. 
 
 " It is a volume replete with interest, and may be read with pleasure and 
 profit." Ken. Journal. 
 
 "A capital book for those who are fond of sea life and truth It shows 
 
 the real character of the sailor, the dangers, moral as \vell as physical, that 
 beset him, and is well fitted to awaken interest in his behalf." JV. Y. 
 Observer. 
 
 " An excellent book for boys." Aurora. 
 
 'A delightful record of life upon the l briny deep,' with its excitements 
 and perils." Democrat. 
 
 " It comprises an eventful period in our naval history, many of the well- 
 attested scenes of which are here graphically described." Maine Farmer. 
 
 " Full of first-rate sea stories, told by a good sailor, and a good writer." 
 Morning Chronicle. 
 
 "There is abundance in it to interest the reader." New Bedford 
 Mercury. 
 
 "The pictures it furnishes of life at sea, and the sketches it gives of the 
 character of the sailor, are highly entertaining." Pittsburg Gazette. 
 
 "It is a volume that will repay a perusal." Daily News. 
 
 " Mr Sleeper never wrote an unreadable story." Bath Times. 
 
 *' The interest which the author has thrown into these tales is very great, 
 and the style graphic and attractive." Bangor Whig. 
 
 "The writings of Hawser Martingale have a peculiar charm." Sherborn 
 Gazette. 
 
 " Like all others in similar circumstances, the author has passed through 
 many trying misfortunes, been placed in many perilous situations, but 
 through all has never yielded to vice or temptation, and in this, we com 
 mend it to all young men who desif ' 
 them to follow." Worcester Times. 
 
LIST OF JUVENILE BOOKS. 
 
 Jack in the Forecastle. 
 
22 CROSBY & NICHOLS' 
 
 JOHNNY AND MAGGIE. 
 
 Johnny and Maggie, and other Stories, " The Coffee Pot 
 and the Milk Pitcher," " M. Du Pratz and the Beavers." 
 Illustrated. Price, 25 cents. 
 
 Full of fun and instruction, inculcating useful lessons. 
 
 JUST IN TIME. 
 
 Just in Tune, and other stories. Illustrated. Price, 25 
 cents. 
 
 Printed in large, clear type, and teaching the necessity and advantage of 
 promptness in all the relations of life. 
 
 KEEPER'S TRAVELS. 
 
 Keeper's Travels in Search of his Master. Illustrated. 
 Price, 38 cents. 
 
 The author of Keeper's Travels is unknown ; he must, however, have been 
 gifted with a feeling heart and good understanding, if we may judge him 
 by the pathos and instruction of this story. Its object is to show the results 
 or a single error, and while it is highly amusing, the touching moral can 
 not fail to be impressed upon the heart of the youthful reader. 
 
 LEGENDS OF BRITTANY. 
 
 The Popular Legends of Brittany ; an English version of 
 Sonvestre's " Foyer Breton." Fully illustrated. Price, 
 75 cents. 
 
 This handsome volume contains more than a dozen of the famous " Le 
 gends of Brittany," which with a wonderful fascination interest both 
 young and old. The illustrations are appropriate and spirited. 
 
 LITTLE BY LITTLE. 
 
 Little by Little ; or, The Cruise of the Flyaway. A story 
 for young folks. By OLIVER OPTIC. Illustrated. Price, 
 63 cents. 
 
 This is another characteristic book by the universally popular " Oliver 
 Optic." The hero of the story is a nautical young gentleman, and most 
 of the events occur upon the water. It is tilled with stirring incidents of 
 exciting interest, and is calculated to beget in its readers that "excellent 
 spirit" which pervaded the mind and heart of " Paul Duncan," and to lead 
 them forward to the material and moral triumphs which crowned his use- 
 fullife. 
 
LIST OF JUVENILE BOOKS. 
 
 FRANKIE LEARNING- TO BIDE. 
 
 LITTLE FRANKIE STORIES. 
 
 By MRS. MADELINE LESLIE. Illustrated by Billings, 
 Price, single vol. 25 cents. Set, six vols. $1.50. 
 
 This series is by the same authoress as the Robin's Nest, and consists o: 
 an equal number of charmingly written and instructive tales for the young 
 They are very tastefully gotten up, and prettily illustrated by Billings. Mrs 
 Leslie has already secured an enviable position among writers of children's 
 stories, and the present series well sustains her previous reputation. Sh< 
 writes with simplicity and ease, and possesses to an unusual degree, th( 
 ability to place herself in sympathy with the real life and feelings of child 
 hood. 
 
24 CROSBY & NICHOLS' 
 
 The series contains six volumes, entitled : 
 
 Little Frankie and his Mother. 
 
 Little Frankie and his Father. 
 
 Little Frankie at his Plays. 
 
 Little Frankie and his Cousins. 
 
 Little Frankie on a Journey. 
 
 Little Frankie at School. 
 
 The success of the Hollo Books, they having already become the classics 
 of juvenile literature, has induced the publication Irom time to time ot 
 series of connected stories, adapted to the various ages between early 
 childhood and more mature youth. Among the latest issues, more particu 
 larly infantile in their character, we are pleased to notice Little Frankie's 
 Stories, consisting of six small volumes. These constitute a child's library 
 in themselves, and we can well imagine with what eagerness they will be 
 seized and pored over by the hour together by the little ones. The au 
 thoress, Mrs. Leslie, is possessed in an unusual degree with that almost 
 instinctive feminine appreciation of the wants of children, which is so 
 admirably demonstrated in these little books. 
 
 LIFE OF WASHINGTON. 
 
 The Life of George Washington. Written f >r Children. 
 By E. CECIL. Numerous colored Plates. Price, 75 cents. 
 
 This book is designed to convey to the youthful mind, in an intelligible 
 and pleasant manner, the prominent events connected with the hie of 
 Washington, in which he took an active part, and to make plain the ele 
 ments of his great and noble character. 
 
 "It cannot but create in the youthful mind a veneration for the name 
 which should ever be first in the hearts of the American people, and a 
 desire to imitate the example of one so universally revered." Advertiser. 
 
 u It is truly a beautiful little volume." ..." While it is not an epit 
 ome, it comprises all the events of the life of Washington, and it draws a 
 most interesting picture of his noble character and sublime patriotism." 
 N. Y Churchman, 
 
 " It cannot fail deeply to interest our young readers, as well from the 
 subject to which it is devoted, as from the pleasing and attractive form in 
 which its facts are presented." 
 
 " No more elevating story can be placed in the hands of a boy, nor one 
 better calculated to awaken noble emotions." 
 
 " We cordially commend this lovely book to parents and guardians, as 
 one which has rarely been excelled in those qualities most desirable both 
 for the elevation and delight of youthful minds." Churchman. 
 
 LIFE OF LAFAYETTE. 
 
 Life of Lafayette. Written for Children. By E. CECIL. 
 With six beautiful illustrations printed in oil colors. 
 Price, 75 cents. 
 
 This is a worthy companion of the -'Life of Washington," and is 
 written in the same attractive style. The name of Lafayette will ever be 
 revered by the American people. " As the friend of Washington, he 
 claims our respect; as the disinterested benefactor of our country, we owe 
 him more gratitude than is often expressed." This memoir is an attempt 
 to interest American children in the character and history of one who 
 stood so near our Commander-in-Chief in many difficulties, and whose 
 after-life was so varied and remarkable. 
 
LIST OF JUVENILE BOOKS. 
 
 25 
 
 Life of Washington. 
 
CROSBY & NICHOLS 
 
 LEILA; OR, THE ISLAND. 
 
 Leila ; or, the Island. By ANN FRASER TYTLER. With 
 engravings by ORR, from original designs. Price, 75 
 cents. 
 
 This is a book of great interest, and one which cannot fail to delight 
 and instruct every person who reads it. The touching story of '"Leila," 
 her confiding, unwavering faith, the heroic fortitude with which she bore 
 the trials incident upon a three years' residence on an uninhabited 
 island, the exciting events connected with this long exile from the civil 
 ized-world, the fatal wreck of a second ship at the same place, and her 
 final deliverance and return, are all depicted in a simple and truthful 
 manner, and yet so forcibly and so beautifully as to attract the old as well 
 as young.