’Heigh，boys!’criedGrandfatherBridgeman，’it’stimebeforedinnerto-day。’
　　Heliftedthecrumpledletter，andthumpedasurprising’Hurrah!’
　　Upjumpedalltheechoingyoungones，butJohn，withthestarchinhisthroat，Said，’Father，beforewemakenoises，let’sseethecontentsofthenote。’
　　Theoldmanglaredathimharshly，andtwinklingmadeanswer：’Toobad!
　　JohnBridgeman，I’malwaysthewhisky，andyouarethewater，mylad!’
　　Butsoonitwasknownthro’thehouse，andthehouseranoverforjoy，Thatnews，goodnews，greatmarvels，hadcomefromthesoldierboy；
　　YoungTom，thelucklessscapegrace，offshootofMethodistJohn；
　　Hisgrandfather’seveningtale，whomtheoldmanhailedashisson。
　　Andtheoldman’sshoutofpridewasashoutofhisctory，too；
　　Forhecalledhisaffectionamethod：theneighbours’opinionsheknew。
　　Meantime，fromthemorningtableremongthestoutbreakfastcheer，Thedrinkofthethreegenerations，themilk，thetea，andthebeerAloneinitsgenerousreadingofpintsstoodtheGrandfather’sjug，Thewomenforsightofthemissecamepressingtocoaxandtohug。
　　Hescatteredthemquick，withabussandasmack；thereuponhebeganDersionswithJohn’slittleSarah：onSunday，thenaughtyoldman!
　　Thenmessengersspedtothemaltster，theauctioneer，miller，andallThesevensonsofthefarmerwhohousedintherangeofhiscall。
　　Likewisethemarrieddaughters，threeplentifulladies，primecooks，Whobowedtohimwhiletheycondemned，inmeekhopetostandhighinhisbooks。
　　’John’swifeisafoolatapudding，’theysaid，andthelightcartsuphillWentmerrily，floutingtheSabbath：forpuddingswellmademendawill。
　　Thedaywasavan-birdofsummer：therobinstillpiped，buttheblue，Asawarmanddreamypalacewithvoicesoflarksringingthro’，Lookeddownasifwistfullyeyeingtheblossomsthatfellfromitslap：
　　Adaytosweetenthejuices：adaytoquickenthesap。
　　Allroundtheshadowyorchardslopedmeadowsingold，andthedearShyoletsbreathedtheirheartsout：themaidenbreathoftheyear!
　　Fulltimetherewasbeforedinnertobringfifteenofhisblood，Tositattheoldman’stable：theyfoundthatthedinnerwasgood。
　　Butwhowasshebythelilacsandpouringlaburnumsconcealed，WhenundertheblossomingapplethechairoftheGrandfatherwheeled？
　　Sheheardonelittlechildcrying，’DearbraveCousinTom!’asitleapt；
　　Thenmurmuredshe：’Letmesparethem!’andpassedroundthewalnuts，andwept。
　　YetnotfromsighthadsheslippederefeminineeyescoulddetectThefigureofMaryCharlworth。’It’sjustwhatweallmightexpect，’
　　Wasuttered：and：’Didn’tItellyou？’OfMarytherumourresounds，Thatsheisnowherownmistress，andmistressoffethousandpounds。
　　’Twasshe，theysay，whocruellysentyoungTomtothewar。
　　MissMary，wethankyounow!Ifyouknewwhatwe’rethankingyoufor!
　　But，’Haveherin：letherhearit，’calledGrandfatherBridgeman，elate，WhileMary’sblack-glovedfingershungtremblingwithflightonthegate。
　　Despitethewomen’sremonstrance，twolittleones，lighterthandeer，Wereloosed，andMary，imprisoned，herwholefacewhiteasatear，Cameforwardwithculpritfootsteps。Herpunishmentwastocommence：
　　Thepityinherpalesagetheyreadinadifferentsense。
　　’Youperhapsmayrememberafellow，MissCharlworth，asortofblacksheep，’
　　Theoldmanturnedhistonguetoironicalutterancedeep：
　　’HecameofaMethodistdad，soitwasn’thisfaultifhekicked。
　　Heearnedasadreputation，butMethodistsaremortalstrict。
　　HisnamewasTom，and，dashme!butBridgeman!Ithinkyoumightadd：
　　Whateverhewas，bearinmindthathecameofaMethodistdad。’
　　Thispreludedismallylengthened，tillMary，starting，exclaimed，’Aletter，Sir，fromyourgrandson？’’TomBridgemanthatrascalisnamed，’
　　Theoldmananswered，andfurther，thewordsthatsentTomtotheranksRepeatedaswordsofapersontowhomtheyallowedmightythanks。
　　ButMaryneverblushed：withhereyesontheletter，shesate，Andtwiceinterruptinghimfaltered，’Thedate，mayIask，Sir，thedate？’
　　’Why，that’swhatIneverlookatinaletter，’thefarmerreplied：
　　’Factsfirst!andnowI’llbeparson。’TheBridgemanwomendescriedAqueronMary’seyebrows。Oneturned，andwhileshiftinghercomb，Saidlowtoasister：’I’mcertainsheknowsmorethanweaboutTom。
　　Shewantshimnowhe’sahero!’Thesame，resumingherplace，BeggedMarytocheckthemthemomentshefounditatediouscase。
　　Thenasamastiffswallowsthesnarlingnoisesofcats，Thevoiceofthefarmeropened。’“Threecheers，andoffwithyourhats!“-
　　That’sTom。“We’vebeatenthem，Daddy，andtoughworkitwas，tobesure!
　　Aregularstand-upcombat：eighthourssmellingpowderandgore。
　　IentereditSerjeant-Major，“——andnowhecommandsasalute，AndcarriestheflagofoldEngland!Heigh!seehimliftfoesonhisfoot!
　　’——Anofficer!ay，MissCharlworth，heis，orheissotobe；
　　You’llownwarisn’tsuchhumbug：andGlorymeanssomething，yousee。
　　“Butdon’tsayaword，“hecontinues，“againstthebraveFrenchanymore。“-
　　Thatstoptme：we’llnowmarchtogether。Icouldn’treadfurtherbefore。
　　That“braveFrench“Icouldn’tstomach。Hecan’tseetheircunningtogetUsBritonstofighttheirbattles，whilebesthalfthewinningstheynet!’
　　Theoldmansneered，andreadforward。Itwasofthatdesperatefight；-
　　TheMuscotestolethro’themist-wreathsthatwrappedthechillInkermannheight，Wherestoodoursilentoutposts：oldEnglandwasinthemthatday!
　　Osharpworkedhisruddywrinkles，asiftothebreathofthefrayTheymoved!Hesatbareheaded：hislonghairoverhimslowSwungwhiteasthesilkybog-flowersinpurpleheath-hollowsthatgrow。
　　AndlouderatTom’sfirstperson：acuteandinthunderthe’I’
　　Invadedtheearwithawhinnyoftriumph，thatseem’dtodefyThehostsoftheworld。Allheated，whatwonderhelittlecouldbrookTocatchthesightofMary’sdemurepuritanicallook？
　　Andstillasheledtheonslaught，histreacherousside-shotshesentAtherwhowasfightingabattleasfierce，andwhosatthereunbent。
　　’“Westoodinline，andlikehedgehogstheRussiansrolledunderusthick。
　　Theyfrightenedmethere。“——He’snocoward；forwhen，Miss，theycameatthequick，Thesight，heswears，wasabreakfast——“Mystomachfelttight：inaglimpseIsawyousnoringathomewiththedearcuddled-uplittleimps。
　　Andthenlikethewinterbrickfieldsatmidnight，hotfirelengthenedout。
　　Ourfellowswerejustleashedbloodhounds：noheartofthelotfacedabout。
　　’“Andonlythatgrumbler，BobHarris，remarkedthatwestoodonetoten：
　　’Yefool，’saysMickGrady，’justtell’emtheyknowtocomplimentmen!’
　　AndIsangoutyouroldwords：’Iftheoppositesideisn’tGod’s，Heigh!afteryou’vecountedadozen，thepluckiestladshavetheodds。’
　　Ping-pingflewtheenemies’pepper：theColonelroared，Forward，andweWentatthem。’Twasfirstlikeablanket：andthenalongplungeinthesea。
　　’“Well，nowaboutmeandtheFrenchman：ithappenedIcan’ttellyouhow：
　　And，Grandfather，hear，ifyouloveme，andputasideprejudicenow“：
　　Heneversays“Grandfather“——Tomdon’t——saveit’saseriousthing。
　　“Well，thereweresomepitsfortherifles，justdugonourFrench-
　　leaningwing：
　　Andbackwards，andforwards，andbackwardswewent，andatlastI
　　wasvexed，AndsworeIwouldneversurrenderafootwhentheRussianschargednext。
　　’“Iknowthatlife’sworthkeeping。“——Ay，soitis，lad；soitis!-
　　“Butmylifebelongstoawoman。“——DoesthatmeanHerMajesty，Miss？-
　　“TheseRussianscamelumpingandgrinning：they’refierceatit，thoughtheyareblocks。
　　Ourfellowswereprettywellpumped，andlookedsharpforthelittleFrenchcocks。
　　Lord，didn’tweprayfortheircrowing!whenoverus，onthehill-
　　top，Beholdthefirstlineofthemskipping，likekangaroosseenonthehop。
　　’“Thatsentmeintoapassion，tothinkofthemspyingourflight!“
　　Heigh，Tom!you’veBridgemanblood，boy!And，“’Facethem!’I
　　shouted：’Allright；
　　Sure，Serjeant，we’lltaketheirshotdacent，likegentlemen，’Gradyreplied。
　　Aballinhismouth，andthenobleoldIrishmandroppedbymyside。
　　Thentherewasjustaninstanttosavemyself，whenashortwheezeOfbloodylungsunderthesmoke，andared-coatcrawleduponhisknees。
　　’“’TwasEnsignBaynesofourparish。“——Ah，ah，MissCharlworth，theoneOurTomfoughtforayounglady？Come，nowwe’vegotintothefun!-
　　“Ishoulderedhim：heprimedhispistol，andItrailedmymusket，prepared。“
　　Why，that’safinepick-a-backforye，tomaketwentyRussianslookscared!
　　“Theycame——nevermindhowmany：wecouldn’thaverunverywell，Wefoughtbacktoback：’facetoface，ourlasttime!’hesaid，smiling，andfell。
　　’“ThenIstrovewildforhisbody：thebeggarssawglitteringrings，WhichIvowedtosendtohismother。Igotsomehardknocksandsharpstings，Butfeltthemnomorethanangel，ordel，exceptinthewind。
　　IknowthatIsworeataRussianforshowinghisteeth，andhegrinnedTheharder：quick，asfromheaven，amanonahorserodebetween，Andfired，andswunghisbrightsabre：Ican’twriteyoumoreofthescene。
　　’“Buthalfinhisarms，andhalfathisstirrup，heboremerightforth，Andpitchedmeamongmyoldcomrades：beforeIcouldtellsouthfromnorth，Hecaughtmyhandup，andkissedit!Don’teverletanymanspeakAwordagainstFrenchmen，Inearhim!Ican’tfindhisname，tho’I
　　seek。
　　ButFrench，andaGeneral，surelyhewas，and，Godblesshim!thro’
　　himI’velearnttoloveawholenation。“’Theancientmanpaused，winkingdim。
　　Acuriouslook，halfwoeful，wasseenonhisfaceasheturnedHiseyesuponeachofhischildren，likeonewhobutfaintlydiscernedHisoldselfinanoldmirror。Thengatheringsenseinhisfist，Hesoundedithardonhisknee-cap。’Yourhand，Tom，theFrenchfellowkissed!
　　Hekissedmyboy’soldpounder!Isayhe’sagentleman!’StraightTheletterhetossedtoonedaughter；badehertheremainderrelate。
　　Tomproperlystatedhispraisesinfacts，buttheladypreferredTodeckthenarrationwithbrackets，anddropheradditionalword。
　　WhatnoblerChristiannaturesthesewomencouldboast，who，’twasknown，Oncespatatthenameoftheirnephew，andnowmadehispraisestheirown!
　　Theletteratlastwasfinished，thehearersbreathedfreely，andsignWasgen，’Tom’shealth!’——Quoththefarmer：’Eh，Miss？areyouweakinthespine？’
　　ForMaryhadsunk，andherbodywasshaking，asifinafit。
　　Tom’slettersheheld，andherthumb-nailthemonthwhentheletterwaswritFast-dinted，whileshehungsobbing：’O，see，Sir，theletterisold!
　　O，donotbetoohappy!’——’IfIunderstandyou，I’mbowled!’
　　SaidGrandfatherBridgeman，’anddowngomywickets!——nothappy!
　　whenhere，Here’sTomliketomarryhisGeneral’sdaughter——orwidow——I’llswear!
　　’Iwagerheknowshowtostrut，too!It’sallonthecardsthattheQueenWillaskhimtoBuckinghamPalace，tosaywhathe’sdoneandhe’sseen。
　　ctoria’sfondofhersoldiers：andshe’sgotanoseforafight。
　　IfTomtellsacleverishstory——thereissuchathingasaknight!
　　Anddon’thelookroguishandhandsome!——Toseeagirlsnellingthere-
　　ByGeorge，Miss，it’sclearthatyou’rejealous’——’Ilovehim!’sheansweredhisstare。
　　’Yes!now!’breathedthevoiceofawoman——’Ah!now!’quer’dlowthereply。
　　’And“now“’sjustabittoolate，soit’snouseyourpipingyoureye，’
　　Thefarmeraddedbluffly：’OldLawyerCharlworthwasrich；
　　YoufollowedhisinstructionsinkickingTomintotheditch。
　　Ifyou’resuchadutifuldaughter，thatdoesn’tproveTomisafool。
　　Forgeandforget’smymotto!andhere’smygroggrowingcool!’
　　’But，Sir，’Maryfaintlyrepeated：’forfourlongweeksIhavefailedTocomeandcastonyoumyburden；suchgriefforyoualwaysprevailed!
　　Myhearthassobledforyou!’Theoldmanburstonherspeech：
　　’You’vechosenalikelytime，Miss!aprettyoccasiontopreach!’
　　Andwasitnotoutrageous，thatnow，ofalltimes，oneshouldcomeWithincomprehensiblepity!FarbetterhadMarybeendumb。
　　Butwhenagainshestammeredinthisbewilderingway，Thefarmernolongercouldbearit，andbeggedhertogo，ortostay，Butnottobewhimperingnonsenseatsuchatime。Prickedbyagoad，’Twasyouwhosenthimtoglory：-you’vecomeheretoreapwhatyousowed。