"Yes, yes, Uncle. Oh, God, that must never come!"
"I hope it will not, but we never can tell. This is going to be a terrible war, especially in our own state."
They stood for several seconds holding on to each other's hands and Halsey never forgot the tenderness of his uncle, or the kindly look in his eyes. This picture of his foster father clinging to him so tenderly was the last picture that he ever had of Uncle Hillery at close range, and he never spoke to him again.
Finally because he could not speak Halsey turned and went out of the library and sought his aunt. He found her in the sewing room.
"Aunt Julia," choked the boy. "I have come to say goodbye. I am going with the Union army. Uncle thinks I had better go tonight."
"You have always been a good boy, Halsey," said his aunt drawing him close to her and kissing him in a motherly way. "We will always love you no matter what comes.
