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agged about and limbered and unlimbered and fired； to the imminent danger of everybody； especially of the company。 In point of marching； with all the legs going together； and twisting itself up and untwisting breaking into single… file （for Indian fighting）； and forming platoons； turning a sharp corner； and getting out of the way of a wagon； circling the town pump； frightening horses； stopping short in front of the tavern； with ranks dressed and eyes right and left； it was the equal of any military organization I ever saw。 It could train better than the big company； and I think it did more good in keeping alive the spirit of patriotism and desire to fight。 Its discipline was strict。 If a boy left the ranks to jab a spectator； or make faces at a window； or 〃go for〃 a striped snake； he was 〃hollered〃 at no end。
It was altogether a very serious business； there was no levity about the hot and hard marching； and as boys have no humor； nothing ludicrous occurred。 John was very proud of his office； and of his ability to keep the rear ranks closed up and ready to execute any maneuver when the captain 〃hollered；〃 which he did continually。 He carried a real sword； which his grandfather had worn in many a militia campaign on the village green； the rust upon which John fancied was Indian blood； he had various red and yellow insignia of military rank sewed upon different parts of his clothes； and though his cocked hat was of pasteboard； it was decorated with gilding and bright rosettes； and floated a red feather that made his heart beat with martial fury whenever he looked at it。 The effect of this uniform upon the girls was not a matter of conjecture。 I think they really cared nothing about it； but they pretended to think it fine； and they fed the poor boy's vanity； the weakness by which women govern the world。
The exalted happiness of John in this military service I daresay was never equaled in any subsequent occupation。 The display of the company in the village filled him with the loftiest heroism。 There was nothing wanting but an enemy to fight； but this could only be had by half the company staining themselves with elderberry juice and going into the woods as Indians； to fight the artillery from behind trees with bows and arrows； or to ambush it and tomahawk the gunners。 This； however； was made to seem very like real war。 Traditions of Indian cruelty were still fresh in western Massachusetts。 Behind John's house in the orchard were some old slate tombstones； sunken and leaning； which recorded the names of Captain Moses Rice and Phineas Arms； who had been killed by Indians in the last century while at work in the meadow by the river； and who slept there in the hope of the glorious resurrection。 Phineas Arms martial namewas long since dust； and even the mortal part of the great Captain Moses Rice had been absorbed in the soil and passed perhaps with the sap up into the old but still blooming apple…trees。 It was a quiet place where they lay； but they might have heardif hear they couldthe loud； continuous roar of the Deerfield； and the stirring of the long grass on that sunny slope。 There was a tradition that years ago an Indian； probably the last of his race； had been seen moving along the crest of the mountain； and gazing down into the lovely valley which had been the favorite home of his tribe； upon the fields where he grew his corn； and the sparkling stream whence he drew his fish。 John used to fancy at times； as he sat there； that he could see that red specter gliding among the trees on the hill； and if the tombstone suggested to him the trump of judgment； he could not separate it from the war…whoop that had been the last sound in the ear of Phineas Arms。 The Indian always preceded murder by the war…whoop； and this was an advantage that the artillery had in the fight with the elderberry Indians。 It was warned in time。 If there was no war… whoop； the killing did n't count； the artillery man got up and killed the Indian。 The Indian usually had the worst of it； he not only got killed by the regulars； but he got whipped by the home guard at night for staining himself and his clothes with the elderberry。
But once a year the company had a superlative parade。 This was when the military company from the north part of the town joined the villagers in a general muster。 This was an infantry company； and not to be compared with that of the village in point of evolutions。 There was a great and natural hatred between the north town boys and the center。 I don't know why； but no contiguous African tribes could be more hostile。 It was all right for one of either section to 〃lick〃 the other if he could； or for half a dozen to 〃lick〃 one of the enemy if they caught him alone。 The notion of honor； as of mercy； comes into the boy only when he is pretty well grown； to some neither ever comes。 And yet there was an artificial military courtesy （something like that existing in the feudal age； no doubt） which put the meeting of these two rival and mutually detested companies on a high plane of behavior。 It was beautiful to see the seriousness of this lofty and studied condescension on both sides。 For the time everything was under martial law。 The village company being the senior； its captain commanded the united battalion in the march； and this put John temporarily into the position of captain； with the right to march at the head and 〃holler；〃 a responsibility which realized all his hopes of glory。 I suppose there has yet been discovered by man no gratification like that of marching at the head of a column in uniform on parade； unless； perhaps； it is marching at their head when they are leaving a field of battle。 John experienced all the thrill of this conspicuous authority； and I daresay that nothing in his later life has so exalted him in his own esteem； certainly nothing has since happened that was so important as the events of that parade day seemed。 He satiated himself with all the delights of war。
XVIII
COUNTRY SCENES
It is impossible to say at what age a New England country…boy becomes conscious that his trousers…legs are too short； and is anxious about the part of his hair and the fit of his woman…made roundabout。 These harrowing thoughts come to him later than to the city lad。 At least； a generation ago he served a long apprenticeship with nature only for a master； absolutely unconscious of the artificialities of life。
But I do not think his early education was neglected。 And yet it is easy to underestimate the influences that； unconsciously to him； were expanding his mind and nursing in him heroic purposes。 There was the lovely but narrow valley； with its rapid mountain stream； there were the great hills which he climbed； only to see other hills stretching away to a broken and tempting horizon； there were the rocky pastures； and the wide sweeps of forest through which the winter tempests howled； upon which hung the haze of summer heat； over which the great shadows of summer clouds traveled； there were the clouds themselves； shouldering up above the peaks； hurrying across the narrow sky；the clouds out of which the wind came； and the lightning and the sudden dashes of rain； and there were days when the sky was ineffably blue and distant； a fathomless vault of heaven where the hen…hawk and the eagle poised on outstretched wings and watched for their prey。 Can you say how these things fed the imagination of the boy； who had few books and no contact with the great world？ Do you think any city lad could have written 〃Thanatopsis〃 at eighteen？
If you had seen John； in his short and roomy trousers and ill…used straw hat； picking his barefooted way over the rocks along the river… bank of a cool morning to see if an eel had 〃got on；〃 you would not have fancied that he lived in an ideal world。 Nor did he consciously。 So far as he knew； he had no more sentiment than a jack…knife。 Although he loved Cynthia Rudd devotedly； and blushed scarlet one day when his cousin found a lock of Cynthia's flaming hair in the box where John kept his fishhooks； spruce gum； flag…root； tickets of standing at the head； gimlet； billets…doux in blue ink； a vile liquid in a bottle to make fish bite； and other precious possessions； yet Cynthia's society had no attractions for him comparable to a day's trout…fishing。 She was； after all； only a single and a very undefined item in his general ideal world； and there was no harm in letting his imagination play about her illumined head。 Since Cynthia had 〃got religion〃 and John had got nothing； his love was tempered with a little awe and a feeling of distance。 He was not fickle； and yet I cannot say that he was not ready to construct a new romance； in which Cynthia should be eliminated。 Nothing was easier。 Perhaps it was a luxurious traveling carriage； drawn by two splendid horses in plated harness； driven along the sandy road。 There were a gentleman and a young lad on the front seat； and on the back seat a handsome pale lady with a little girl beside her。 Behind； on the rack with the trunk； was a colored boy； an imp out of a story…book。 John was told that the black boy was a slave； and that the carriage was from Baltimore。 Here was a chance for a romance。 Slavery； beauty； wea