Page:Round the Red Lamp.djvu/51

Rh 'It do hearten me up so,' he said one morning, as he glowed in the hot May sun. 'It's a job to keep back the flies, though. They get owdacious in this weather, and they do plague me cruel.'

'I'll keep them off you, uncle,' said Norah.

'Eh, but it's fine! This sunshine makes me think o' the glory to come. You might read me a bit o' the Bible, lass. I find it wonderful soothing.'

'What part would you like, uncle?'

'Oh, them wars.'

'The wars?'

'Aye, keep to the wars! Give me the Old Testament for choice. There's more taste to it, to my mind. When parson comes he wants to get off to something else; but it's Joshua or nothing with me. Them Israelites was good soldiers—good growed soldiers, all of 'em.'

'But, uncle,' pleaded Norah, 'it's all peace in the next world.'

'No, it ain't, gal.'

'Oh, yes, uncle, surely!'

The old corporal knocked his stick irritably upon the ground. 'I tell ye it ain't, gal. I asked parson.'

'Well, what did he say?'

'He said there was to be a last fight. He