This thought came to Ralph like an inspiration. It pleased the old man's whim, and he sat down on the door-step.
"Now, I suppose," said Ralph, "that General Winfield Scott always looked into things a little before he went into a fight. Didn't he?"
"To be sure," assented the old man.
"Well," said Ralph. "What is the condition of the enemy? I suppose the whole neighborhood's against us."
"To be sure," said the old man. The rest were silent, but all felt the statement to be about true.
"Next," said Ralph, "I suppose General Winfield Scott would always inquire into the condition of his own troops. Now let us see. Captain Pearson has Bud, who is the right wing, badly crippled by having his arm broken in the first battle." (Miss Hawkins looked pale.)
"To be sure," said the old man.
"And I am the left wing, pretty good at giving advice, but very slender in a fight."
"To be sure," said the old man.
"And Shocky and Miss Martha and Hannah good aids, but nothing in a battle."