Meanwhile the General had recovered from his emotion, replaced his bandanna, and resumed his speech.
"My experience amid the scenes of war has made me very sympathetic, and I am easily affected to tears. If you have studied your histories, as you should, you already know that I was very kind to my men, and always tried to make them as comfortable as circumstances would permit."
"The Commander-in-Chief is pretty eloquent," said Clarence to Ralph, "He is using large words. Have you any idea who it is?"
"I have my suspicions," answered Ralph, "but I am not sure. Hush! he isn't through with his oration."
"You all know the old fisherman down at the Ledge?" continued the speaker, inquiringly.
"Uncle Simon?" said half a dozen voices at once. "Should say so."
"Yes, Uncle Simon. I think there is not a boy here that he has not befriended, mended his fish-poles, disentangled his lines, patched his boats, saved him from drowning in summer and from freezing in winter. Well, Uncle Simon is down with rheumatism, and hasn't fire enough to keep him warm. When I happened to hear of the fine stock of wood you had laid in for a big bonfire, I thought now is Uncle Simon's chance to get warm. Now Uncle Simon's young friends can come to the rescue. What do you say, boys, shall we form ourselves into a skating brigade, pile the wood on these sleds that you forgot to take home, and carry it down the river to Uncle Simon? All in favor say 'Aye.'"
The response to this appeal did not come at once. The boys thought this rather a tame ending to their contemplated sport.
"One good turn deserves another," said the General, persuasively. "Remember that Uncle Simon has helped most of you out of some difficulty. Now, once more, all in favor say 'Aye.'"
This time there was not a boy that did not respond. The cliffs around echoed with the young voices.