I was just telling my mother that I hoped we should not have to stay much longer in this place," replied Tom.
"I think we are having an easy time of it here," added the veteran.

"When you find out what hunger and fatigue mean, you will learn to be contented with such a place as this." "I'm contented enough; but I want to get into the field, and have something done." "Time enough, my boy.

I used to feel just so, Tom, when I went to Mexico; but after a while I got so I didn't care what we did or where we went." Tom added a postscript to his letter, informing his mother of the time fixed for the departure of the regiment.

The intelligence in this instance proved to be correct, for on the appointed day the little colonel marched his command into the city, where it was duly embarked on the cars for New York.

It was a day of excitement, for the streets of the city were thronged with people, whose cheers and applause were the benison with which the regiment went forth to do and to die for the nation.