just
where he will fit in when heroes are not required."

"Heroes are always required," Jack answered sagely, "and I bet G. W.
will be brave anywhere. He's got brave eyes."

"I believe you are right, Jack," said his mother. "Put his photograph
upon your table, and try to be the same kind of boy you think he is. He
certainly is a dear little chap!"

So upon the table in Jack's room G. W.'s photograph was placed; and
often and often when he was quite alone Colonel Austin's son visited
with his father's small dusky body-guard until, on Jack's side at least,
the two became intimate friends.

Then into the Northern home came Daddy's letters telling of the approach
of battle and the change of scene. Nothing of G. W.'s doings was ever
omitted by the Colonel; he knew Jack's hunger for hero-news.

The little mother was less gay during those early days of summer; a
shadow rested upon her sweet face, and she clung to Jack with a sort of
passion. Jack was full of comfort and cheer when he was with her, but he
had his hours of unhappiness too, and then he used to go into his room
and stay with G. W.

One day Mrs. Austin went to drive with a friend, and Jack took that
opportunity for a private drill, with G. W. to look on. Up in his bright
sunlit room he put on his soldier suit and marched to and fro with
swelling chest and mighty stride.

Oh! if he were only to be with his father in the battles to come! He
might keep danger away if he were with him. No one would hurt a little
boy--he would go, in every battle, in front of his father!

At last he went to the table and kneeling down scanned the likeness of
G. W.--the boy who was filling his place, Daddy's body-guard! He grew
very unhappy as he looked at the small colored boy.

"I'm a toy boy," he faltered, "and G. W. is a live soldier!" Then he
thought of Daddy's last letter, in which he had written of the hill
which marked G. W.'s boundary.

"I bet that makes you turn hot and cold, G. W.," he mused. "Oh, I know
just how you feel!" The blue eyes searched deep into the pictured ones
of brown. "Oh! G. W., I wish you knew how to manage Daddy as Mamma-dear
and I do! Daddy'll let you do what's necessary always, if you just know
how, but he's awful particular about being obeyed. I wish you could make
him change his mind about that hill. Of course they won't fight a battle
_there_; if there was any danger of that Daddy'd set your limit at camp!
But, G. W., if you should go ahead