Page:War; or, What happens when one loves one's enemy, John Luther Long, 1913.djvu/360

WAR bronzed and faded soldiers. They were from everywhere—Maine to Virginia. But they all cried at Home, Sweet Home.

Each one had left a good home—for this!

An old preacher, in a long rusty coat, got up on a store box and addressed the boys, talked to them, nice, just a little, of their homes—and what was in them. Then he prayed and blessed them and begged God to end the war soon and to save them all for their homes.

Suddenly an orderly came riding up to Jon and said something.

"Ladies," Jon shouts out, "thank you for all. But clear the road at once. There is work for us. When we return you may sing us the victor's pæan. Go to the cellars."

I never saw such quick vanishment. Then we sees that we're attacked by rebel cavalry.

"Forward!" yells Jon to the men. "Carry sabers! Trot! Gallop! Charge!"

But before we got well started, the Johnnies burst right on us, in front and both flanks, from behind some barns and houses, cutting 344