The General's cane
pounded--he had their eyes! "Left, right, left, right--all over the
world men are marching, and you sit here--"
The years seemed to have dropped from him. His voice rang with a fire
that had once drawn men after him. He had led a charge at Gettysburg,
and his men had followed!
And these two men would follow him. He saw the dawn of their resolve
in their faces. "There's fine stuff in both of you," he said, "and the
country needs you. Isn't it better to fight than to sit here? Get
into my car and I'll take you down."
"Aw, what's eatin' you," one of the older men growled. "What game's
this? Recruitin'?"
But the young men asked no questions. They came--glad to come. Roused
out of a lethargy which had bound them. Waked by a ringing old voice.
The General was rather quiet when he reached home. Jean and Bronson,
who had suffered torments, watched him with concerned eyes. And, as if
he divined it, he laid his hand over Jean's. "I did a good day's work,
my dear. I got two men for the Army, and I'm going to get more--"
And he did get more. He went not only in the rain, but in the warmth
of the sun, when the old fruit trees bloomed along the tow path, and
the backs of the mules were shining black, and the women came out on
deck with their washing.
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