"Dine with a leech!" thought Jack; "why, grandmother must be going out of her mind."
"Well, Jack, what would you like to be?"
"I would like, grandma, to be a Highland soldier, and wear a feather bonnet."
Grandma smiled sadly, and for a time gazed silently at the fire.
"No, Jack, no. I would not like you to be a soldier. Anything else?"
"Oh yes," replied the boy, eagerly enough. "You see, grandma, Mr. Dawson says there is going to be a big, big war with Russia."
"Perhaps so, dear, perhaps."
"Well, sailors fight as well as soldiers, and dress all in blue and gold, for I've seen some. They don't have feather bonnets, though—only just cocked hats and long swords. Well, I would like to be a sailor like that; and I'm sure when I grow bigger I could cut off an enemy's head beautifully."
"O boy, boy, how horrible! Well, I'll think about it; and if your mother will let you stay with me for a time, I will get you a good and clever tutor."
Jack did not answer, but he took his grandma's soft hand in both his, and leaned his cheek upon it in a gently caressing way.