"You are as bold as a lion, Thomas." "Do you think I can stand it, gran'ther ?" added Tom, with a smile.
"Stand it?
Well, Thomas, it's a hard life to be a soldier, and I know something about it.

When we marched from--" "Dinner's ready," interposed Mrs.Somers, for gran'ther Greene had marched that march so many times that every member of the family knew it by heart.
"There's one good thing about it, Tom," said John: "you have got a first-rate captain." "I'm thankful you are going with Captain Benson, for if there ever was a Christian in Pinchbrook, he is the man," added Mrs.Somers.
"And all the company will be your own friends and neighbors," said gran'ther Greene; "and that's something, I can tell you.

I know something about this business.

When we marched from--" "Have some more beans, brother ?" asked Mrs.Somers.

"You will be among your friends, Thomas, as gran'ther says." "That's a great thing, I can tell you," added the veteran.