the Southern
States has been acknowledged by the world."

Such sentiments as these never failed to "bring down the car," as Rodney
afterward expressed it when describing some of the incidents of his
journey from Barrington, and many of the passengers assured him that he
would be at liberty to put on a citizen's suit in less than six months.

"The fighting won't amount to anything," said one, who talked as if he
thought himself able to whip the whole Yankee nation alone and unaided.
"It will be over in a good deal less than six months, but you gallant
fellows will have to wear your uniforms a little longer in order to
escort President Davis to Washington. He will dictate terms of peace in
the enemy's capital."

"If our President will only do that, I will stay in the army ten years
if it is necessary," declared Rodney, and he meant every word of it, for
he was carried away by his enthusiasm.

A good many foolish notions of this sort were drummed into Rodney Gray's
head during his two days' journey from Barrington to Mooreville. He
afterward had occasion to recall some of them, and to wonder how he ever
came to accept them as the truth. But he kept his word so far as his
uniform was concerned; that is to say, he returned to the closet the
citizen's suit that had been laid out for him, and rigged himself up as
if he were going on dress parade. His mother looked at him with fond and
admiring eyes as he stepped upon the gallery and seated himself in the
easy chair that one of the attentive darkies placed for him; for Rodney
was an only child, and a very fine looking young soldier besides.

"Yes," he said, in reply to his mother's question. "I am going to stick
to my uniform. It is the color that has been adopted by our government,
and, as I told some of the passengers on the train, I'll not wear any
other until we have secured our independence."

"Nobly said!" exclaimed Rodney's mother, who was as strong for
secession as Marcy Gray's mother was for the Union. "I was sure you
would not stay at home very long after your State called for your
services. I don't think you will have to wear the gray for a very great
while, but your father thinks he sees trouble in the near future."

"I don't think so my dear; I know so," replied Mr. Gray, in answer to an
inquiring look from Rodney. "The North can raise more men than we can."

"That was what the colonel said when I asked him to let me come home,"
exclaimed Rodney. "He said,