Page:The Family Album.pdf/43

Rh friend whose name was Yoder. Both of ’em were over eighty years old, but grandpop felt much superior because he was a bass drummer in the war, while Yoder was only a kettle drummer.

Grandpop claimed that he had much more territory to cover than Yoder, showing that his general had more confidence in him. That always made Yoder mad and he would squirt tobacco juice in grandpop’s direction.

Grandpop was kind of cowardly except when it came to drums, but this always got him made, too. I always found that no man was a coward when he was mad, because anger is a good substitute for bravery.

Grandpop would shake his hickory cane at Yoder and say, “I out-drummed you in ’61 and I can do it now.”

Yoder would switch his tobacco quid from one cheek to the other and holler, “I’ll knock you for a row of old Virginia bee hives.”

Grandpop would get so angry then that his collar would blister. He used to say, “I’ll take you like Grant took Richmond.”