"To see me?"
"Yes'm. I told him we'd lost our home and he said he'd come right up.
And he's comin', too—"
The mother looked into the child's flushed face, saw the love light in his eyes and caught him to her heart.
"Oh, boy, boy, you're such a fine young one—my baby—as smart as a whip. You'll beat 'em all some day and make your poor old mother proud and happy."
"I'm going to try now, Ma—you see if I don't."
"I know you will, my son."
"I'll never run away again. You see if I do."
The boy stopped suddenly at the sight of Colonel Lee swiftly approaching.
"Run and wash your face," the mother whispered, "and tell your brothers to put on clean shirts. I want them to see the Colonel, too."
The boy darted into the house.