He was perplexed at the discovery, and at once began to debate the question whether it was advisable for him to proceed any farther in this direction.
"I suppose you are a Union man--ain't you ?" said Tom, after he had considered his situation for some time.
Instead of answering this question, Joe Burnap raised his eyes from the ground, and fixed his gaze intently upon Tom.

He stared at him for a moment in doubt and silence, and then resumed his former attitude.
"You don't want to fight for the south," added Tom; "so I suppose you don't believe in the Southern Confederacy." "I don't want to fight for nuther of 'em," replied Joe, after a moment of further consideration.

"If they'll only let me alone, I don't keer which beats." His position was certainly an independent one, and he appeared to be entirely impartial.

The newspapers on either side would not have disturbed him.

Patriotism--love of country--had not found a resting place in his soul.