ow, my boy,
have you anything to say?'

'It will turn his head,' murmured Mrs. John to herself; but her mother's
heart swelled with pride as his clear voice rang out,--

'It wasn't I who thought about the tea, it was Corporal Saxby,' (cheers).
'I haven't anything to say, unless you'd like me to tell you father's
story. I've told it once to-day, but you weren't all there. May I, sir?'

'Certainly,' was the colonel's amused reply.

Teddy had never had such an audience before in his life, but he was quite
equal to the occasion. Fingering his button, he began in his usual
impetuous fashion. The very eagerness for his father's deed to be
honoured prevented him from any feelings of self-consciousness, and he
carried his audience by storm.

The ladies were delighted and touched by it, and Mrs. John quietly wiped
some tears from her eyes.

And then Mr. Upton got up. His dreamy manner in speaking was absent now,
and he spoke straightly and forcibly to those in the Queen's service of
the battle to be waged with sin. Touching on their special difficulties
and temptations, he told them how absolutely impossible it was for them
to be, in their own strength, a match for the devil with all the powers
of evil at his back, and how the same Saviour who died for them, would
keep them, and lead them on to certain victory, if they would but enlist
in His service. Nothing could exceed the attention with which he was
listened to, and the evening ended by their rising to their feet and
singing 'God Save the Queen.' Then a sergeant rose to propose a vote of
thanks, cheers were given, and all departed, greatly pleased with their
evening. Teddy slipped up to Tim Stokes on going out.

'Shall I see you again?' he asked.

'I shall be busy to-morrow; we march out at eight in the morning.'

'Oh, I shall come and see you off.'

Tim lingered, then laying his hand heavily on the boy's fair curls, he
said, 'God bless you, little chap! I've done it.'

Teddy's eyes lit up at once. 'Have you--really and truly?'

He nodded. 'My heart's full, and I can't speak of it, but I was away near
the woods there by myself before the tea, and it's all right with me. I
only wonder I didn't do it before. I wouldn't yield, that's the fact.
Don't forget to pray for me, youngster.'

And he dashed out after his comrades, as if ashamed to show his emotion.

Teddy called his mother to him when in bed that night.

'Mother, I will be a soldier, I'm certain sure I