“'She is crying for her mother,' he said.
“'Is she dead?'
“'Yes, sir; she'd been ailing for a long time, and the guns of yesterday hastened her death.'
“'Where did you live?'
“'In that house yonder, sir.'
“'Didn't you feel afraid when we fired on the town?'
“'We were all in the cellar, sir. One shot struck the house, but did not injure it much.'
“'You use very good language,' I could not help saying.
“'Yes, sir; I have had more advantages than most of—of my class.' These last words he spoke rather bitterly. 'When I was a young man my master amused himself with teaching me; but he found I learned so fast that he stopped short. But I carried it on by myself.'
“'Didn't you find that difficult?'