"Go on."
"'A man's foes shall be they of his own household.'"
There Frank stopped again, this time of his own accord. The words struck him with peculiar force.
"That is true too," said Abram; "of the nation, for a nation is a household; and of many, many families."
Frank studied the words a moment, and, after a struggle with his feelings, said in a hushed voice,—
"Did you know, Abe, I've a brother in the rebel army?"
"I did not know. I have heard you have one somewhere in the south."
"Yes, you have heard Jack twit me about my secesh brother. And I have been obliged to own he was a—traitor. And since I left home my folks have had a letter from him, in which he wrote that he was on the point of joining the confederate army, and that we would not probably hear from him again. So I suppose he is fighting against us somewhere."
"Not here, I hope," said Atwater.
"As well here as any where," said Frank. "I always loved my brother. I love him still. But, as you say, wicked as we are, Christ is in our cause, and——" Frank read,—