of little consequence what his age was; and Tom
Somers was tall enough and stout enough to make a very good soldier.

Captain Benson examined the certificate brought to him by the young
recruit, not, however, because it was deemed a necessary legal form, but
because he was acquainted with his father and mother, and would not
willingly have done any thing to displease them. The matter, therefore,
was disposed of to the satisfaction of all the parties concerned, and Tom
actually commenced his career as a soldier boy. He immediately resigned
his situation in the store, for the company now numbered forty men, not
half a dozen of whom had any knowledge whatever of military drill.

As the volunteers of the Pinchbrook company could ill afford to lose the
time devoted to drill before they should be mustered into the service of
the United States, the town voted to pay each man fifteen dollars a month
for three months. This generous and patriotic action of the town rejoiced
the heart of Tom Somers, for his mother actually needed the pittance he
had earned at the store. Mrs. Somers had heard nothing from her husband;
but the destruction of the Gosport Navy Yard, and the seizure of several
northern vessels in the harbor of Norfolk, left her little to hope for in
that direction. Suddenly an impregnable wall seemed to rise up between the
North and the South, and she not only feared that Captain Somers had lost
all his worldly possessions, but that he would hardly be able to escape
himself from the fiery furnace of secession and treason.

To her, therefore, the future looked dark and forbidding. She foresaw that
she and her family would be subjected to the pressure of want, or at least
be dependent upon the kindness of friends for support. She had freely
stated her fears to her children, and fully exhibited the insufficiency of
the family resources. The vote of the town was a perfect godsend to Tom,
and a fat legacy from a rich relative would not have kindled a stronger
feeling of gratitude in his soul.

For the next five weeks, Tom was employed forenoon, afternoon, and
evening, in the drill, and he soon made himself proficient. The company
was recruited nearly up to its maximum number, and was then attached to
the --th regiment, which had just been formed and ordered to Fort Warren.

On the 27th day of May, the company, escorted by the patriotic citizens of
Pinchbrook, marched to Boston, and Tom took a sorrowful farewell of his
mo