Uncle Lawrence answered promptly,
“You are right. My old blood warms, too, at the news of this expedition. What! the tories coming to attack us, in our own river, and to burn down our very houses. God helping me,” he said, glancing reverently upwards, and then striking his gun emphatically, “I’ll march myself against the invaders. You’ll take, me, Major, I spose?”
“Gladly,” replied our hero, seizing the old man’s hand, and shaking it warmly. “It is what I would have desired, above all things else; but could not have presumed to ask, considering your years. Your example will be worth fifty good men to me. When such as you march, who can hold back?”
“Strike while the iron’s hot, then,” pithily said Uncle Lawrence. “Call for volunteers right off, Major. There’s a dozen idle fellows here that might go as well as not; and will, maybe, if you tell the news straight out, and say, too, that every man’s wanted.”
Taking the old man’s hint, the Major stepped out in front of the house, just as everybody was crowding, full of curiosity, to see the express rider depart; and having waited till the messenger dashed off, he proceeded to impart the contents of the despatch, after which, in a short, but stirring speech, he called for volunteers.
No sooner had he finished than Uncle Lawrence, who had stood leaning on his gun, as if idly listening, stepped forward, and taking off his cap, remained a moment gazing at the crowd in silence, the wind waving his long, thin, silvery locks.
The action drew every eye upon him. All saw that he had something to say, and waited for it respectfully.
“Neighbors,” he said, looking around with simple dignity, “here stands the first volunteer.”
At this unexpected declaration—unexpected, however, only because of the veteran’s age, for otherwise it was in keeping with his whole life—the audience, after a pause of silent admiration, broke forth into an enthusiastic cheer.
The old man’s eyes brightened. “And now,” he continued, “who’ll go with me to fight for our homes, our wives, our darters, and our babies? Liberty or death!” And he waved his cap around his head. “Huzza!”