Part 1 (2/2)
”I want to see my Mamma before I go--” his voice broke.
The man shook his head.
”No, Boy; it won't do. You're her baby--”
The dark head sank with a cry.
”I want to see her!”
”Come, come, Jeff Davis, you're going to be a soldier. Remember you're the son of a soldier who fought under General Was.h.i.+ngton and won our freedom. You're named after Thomas Jefferson, the great President. Your three brothers have just come home from New Orleans. Under Old Hickory we drove the British back into their s.h.i.+ps and sent 'em flying home to England. The son of a soldier--the brother of soldiers--can't cry--”
”I will if I want to!”
”All right!” the man laughed--”I'll hold my hat and you can cry it full--”
He removed his hat and held it smilingly under the boy's firm little chin. The childish lips tightened and the cheeks flushed with anger.
His bare toes began to dig holes in the soft rich earth. The appeal to his soldier blood had struck into the pride of his heart and the insult of a hat full of tears had hurt.
At last, he found his tongue:
”Does Pa know I'm goin'?”
”Yes. He thinks you're a very small boy to go so far, but knows it's for the best.”
”That's why he kissed me when I left?”
”Yes.”
”I thought it was funny,” he murmured with a half sob; ”he never kissed me before--”
”He's quiet and reserved, Boy, but he's wise and good and loves you.
He's had a hard time out here in the wilderness fighting his way with a wife and ten children. He never had a chance to get an education and the children didn't either. Some of us are too old now. There's time for you. We're going to stand aside and let you pa.s.s. You're our baby brother, and we love you.”
The child's hand slowly stole into the rough one of the man.
”And I love you, Big Brother--” the little voice faltered, ”and all the others, too, and that's-why-I'm-not-goin'!”
”I'm so glad!” The girl clapped her hands and laughed.
”Polly!--”
”Well, I am, and I don't care what you say. He's too little to go so far and you know he is--”
The man grasped her hand and whispered:
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