Navy. It’s going pretty briskly, too, I hear; they have almost the authorized number now, so they will close the place in a few days. I’m glad our town has done so well.”
Billy walked on down to the corner where the stage was to start. He did not yet feel that the war was real; why, it couldn't be real on a bright, gay, spring morning, with the church bells ringing for Good Friday services, and everything looking just the same as it always did. It was time for the stage to go, but the driver was telling a good story to some friends and could not be bothered to hurry himself for the three passengers who were waiting. The boy bounced about impatiently on the narrow seat and thought that the “I says” and “he says” and “then I just told him” would never come to an end.
They started at last, and a long, bumpy, weary ride it proved to be. The woods on each side of them were green and full of flowers, the little brooks below the bridges were brimming full with the spring rains, the birds were all singing their best songs, but Billy saw only the road before them and heard nothing but the squeaking of the wheels and the creaking of the clumsy old stage. It seemed as
