“Why, sir, yesterday, when I went back to the school, he abused me, and said that he supposed that most of my relations were hanged; spoke ill of my father; and said that my mother”—­Here the tears started to his eyes—­he sobbed aloud.

“Go on, and be cool,” said the Colonel.  “What did he say of your mother?”

“He said, sir, that she was never married to my father.  I know I was wrong, sir; but if it was the king on his throne that said it of my mother, I’d call him a liar.  I called him a liar, and a coward, and a villain:  ay, sir, and if I had been able, I would have tramped him under my feet.”

The Colonel looked steadily at him, but the open clear eye which the boy turned upon him was full of truth and independence.  “And you will find,” said the soldier, “that this spirited defence of your mother will be the most fortunate action of your life.  Well; he struck you then, did he?”

“He knocked me down, sir, with his fist—­then kicked me in the back and sides.  I think some of my ribs are broke.”

“Ay!—­no doubt, no doubt,” said the Colonel.  “And you were only after recovering from this fever which is so prevalent?”

“I wasn’t a week out of it, sir.”

“Well, my boy, we shall punish him for you.”

“Sir, would you hear me for a word or two, if it would be pleasing to you?”

“Speak on,” said the Colonel.

“I would rather change his punishment to—­I would—­that is—­if it would be agreeable to you—­It’s this, sir—­I wouldn’t throuble you now against the master, if you’d be pleased to rightify my father, and punish Yallow Sam.  Oh, sir, for God’s sake, put my heart-broken father into his farm again!  If you would, sir, I could shed my blood, or lay down my life for you, or for any belonging to you.  I’m but a poor boy, sir, low and humble; but they say there’s a greater Being than the greatest in this world, that listens to the just prayers of the poor and friendless.  I was never happy, sir, since we left it—­neither was any of us; and when we’d sit cowld and hungry, about our hearth, We used to be talking of the pleasant days we spent in it, till the tears would be smothered in curses against him that put us out of it.  Oh, sir, if you could know all that a poor and honest family suffers, when they are thrown into distress by want of feeling in their landlords, or by the dishonesty of agents, you would consider my father’s case.  I’m his favorite son, sir, and good right have I to speak for him.  If you could know the sorrow, the misery, the drooping down of the spirits, that lies upon the countenances and the hearts of such people, you wouldn’t, as a man and a Christian, think it below you to spread happiness and contentment among them again.  In the morning they rise to a day of hardship, no matter how bright and cheerful it may be to others—­nor is there any hope of a brighter day for them:  and at night they go to their hard beds to strive to sleep away their