Read The Last Full Measure for Free Online

confidences.
    Then David was shaking me. I had fallen asleep. "Time to go," he said.
    "Oh, can't she stay the night?" Marvelous begged.
    I had wanted to ask, but dared not.
    David was kindly to Marvelous. "No, sweetie," he said, "I'm afraid not. You and your mother might have to flee on a moment's notice. Your mother and I have discussed what she should do if this happens. You'll see Tacy soon, I promise. This will all be over in a few days. The Yankee army is here and it's very strong. They'll drive the Rebs out of town. Now go to sleep."
    He grabbed my hand and drew me to my feet, then took a blanket from Mary and covered Marvelous in a manner so tender that I gazed in amazement.
This is my old brother David
, I thought.
    Then he led me downstairs and we went out into the night.
    He said not a word to me all the way home.
    I had always known that David cared about Marvelous and her mother. He hated the very idea of slavery, and while my brothers Joel and Brandon may have gone off to war to save the Union, I think David wanted to go off to free the slaves.
    We never discussed it as a family. Pa never intruded on his sons' private reasons for going to war, never tried to influence them. He always allowed them to make up their own minds about politics and such. But I know for a fact that David hated slavery.
    ***
    W HEN WE GOT home, the houses on the street were dark, with the exception of a few that still had lights burning in some of the windows.
    Mama had left a lantern aglow in a front window for us. We saw it from a distance. But as we neared the house we saw a figure huddled on our stoop.
    As we approached, David put an arm out to hold me back and walked on ahead. He didn't have his musket with him, but shoved in his waistband in back of his trousers he had a Colt .45. "Can I help you, sir?" I heard him ask.
    The man was leaning forward, his elbows on his knees, his head in his hands. At his feet was a knapsack. In the light of David's lantern, I saw his gray hair under an old cap. And I recognized him in an instant.
    I stepped forward. "That's Mr. Cameron," I told David. "From over to York Street. He's near ninety years old!"
    "Stay back," David said. Then to Mr. Cameron, "Can I help you, sir? Are you lost? Can I help you find your way home?"
    Mr. Cameron raised his eyes to my brother. "I know the way home, son. I'm not dotty. I just don't wanna go there. I live alone now and I'm scairt what with the Rebels in town and the war comin' here and all. I know your pa, the doctor, and I was wonderin' if you'd be so kind as to let me stay in your cellar for a few days, until the Rebs are gone. I'd be no trouble. Don't eat much at my age. Just need a blanket and a corner and some coffee. I do like my coffee. What say you, boy?"
    Mr. Cameron saw me standing a bit behind David and smiled. "Nice little girl you got there."
    "She's my sister," David said. "As I recollect, you have a son, don't you, Mr. Cameron?"
    The face of the old man, which looked like a map of Gettysburg hastily drawn by a Union officer, went sad. "Yes, I do. He's in the army. Somewhere. Don't know where. Don't know which army. Haven't seen him in ten years. Don't expect to see him in ten more. What say you, now? Think your ma would let me in?"
    David nodded. He went up the stoop, helped old Mr. Cameron to his feet, and guided him through the door.
    I followed.
    David locked the door behind us, held Mr. Cameron by the arm, then set him down in a chair. He told me to fetch a warm blanket. I did so. Then he bade me find some coffee on the stove in the kitchen. There was always coffee on the stove in the kitchen. I poured some into a cup, put some sugar in it, and brought it to Mr. Cameron, who accepted it gratefully.
    Then David ordered me to bed.
    As I was going up the stairs, I looked over the banister.
    David was guiding Mr. Cameron down to the cellar, with the blanket in one hand and his other around Mr. Cameron's shoulder. The old man was still holding his