o
have you," they said hospitably.

After questioning them a little further, she decided to go. The boys
climbed into the back of the wagon. As they went along, the boys told
her all about her son,--his carrying Frank, their finding him wounded
near the road, and about his death and burial.

"He was a real brave soldier," they told her consolingly.

As they approached the house, she asked whether they could give her
grandson something to eat.

"Oh, yes, indeed. Certainly," they answered. Then, thinking perhaps
they were raising her hopes too high, they exclaimed apologetically:

"We haven't got much. We didn't kill any squirrels this morning. Both
our guns are broken and don't shoot very well, now."

She was much impressed by the appearance of the place, which looked
very beautiful among the trees.

"Oh, yes, they're big folks," said the driver.

She would have waited at the gate when they reached the house, but the
boys insisted that they all should come in at once. One of them ran
forward and, meeting his mother just coming out to the porch, told who
the visitor was.

Their mother instantly came down the steps and walked toward the gate.
The women met face to face. There was no introduction. None was
needed.

"My son----" faltered the elder lady, her strength giving out.

The boys' mother put her handkerchief to her eyes.

"I have one, too;--God alone knows where he is," she sobbed.

Each knew how great was the other's loss, and in sympathy with
another's grief found consolation for her own.

CHAPTER XX.

The visitors remained at Oakland for several days, as the lady wished
to have her son's remains removed to the old homestead in Delaware.
She was greatly distressed over the want which she saw at Oakland--for
there was literally nothing to eat but black-eyed pease and the boys'
chickens. Every incident of the war interested her. She was delighted
with their Cousin Belle, and took much interest in her story, which
was told by the boys' mother.

Her grandson, Dupont, was a fine, brave, and generous young fellow. He
had spent his boyhood near a town, and could neither ride, swim, nor
shoot as the Oakland boys did; but he was never afraid to try
anything, and the boys took a great liking to him, and he to them.

When the young soldier's body had been removed, the visitors left;
not, however, until the boys had made their companion promise to pay
them a visit. After the departure of these fri