Read Online Secret of Richmond Manor by Gilbert L. Morris - Free Book Online Page A

enlisted.”
    Leah stared at him. He didn’t look a day over fifteen. He was not large, and his face was very thin. “How old are you, Ezra?”
    â€œSixteen now.”
    â€œYou mean, the North took fifteen-year-old boys?”
    â€œOh, no. I had to fib about that a little.” He smiled at her and ate the last bit of pie. Then he licked his fingers and wiped his hands on his shirt. “You know what we did to keep from lying when we went in the army when we were too young?”
    â€œWhat did you do?”
    â€œWell, you had to be eighteen to get in, so I took a sheet of paper and made two pieces of it. On each piece I wrote the figure eighteen, then I put them in my shoes.”
    Leah eyed him. “Why did you do that?”
    Ezra smiled. He had nice brown eyes and was not a bad-looking boy. “When the recruiting sergeant asked me how old I was, I said, “Oh, I’m over eighteen.”
    Leah stared, then giggled, holding her hand over her mouth. “I never heard of anything like that.”
    Ezra nodded. “Lots of us did that. There was some men no more than fourteen, I’d guess. Big for their age, you know.” He sat back and studied her. The moonlight flooded over her hair and gleamed in her eyes. “I liked the army,” he said simply. “Course I wasn’t in long before I got captured, but up until then it was the best I ever had.”
    â€œI’m sorry you got caught,” she said, “but maybe the Lord did it that way on purpose.”
    Ezra blinked in surprise. “What does that mean?”
    â€œI mean, if you hadn’t gotten captured, maybe you’d have gotten killed. This last battle, there were thousands of men killed on both sides. Maybe God got you captured so you wouldn’t get killed.”
    â€œI don’t know anything about that—about God,” Ezra said quietly. “They never told me nothing atany of the places where I was, except at the orphanage, and that was a long time ago.”
    Leah said, “I’m sorry about that. Everybody ought to get to hear about Jesus.” A thought came to her then, and she said, “Would you mind if I would bring you a Bible? You could read it for yourself.”
    Ezra made a small face. “Well, I don’t read too good, but I’ll try if you want me to.” He looked at her, and his face suddenly grew sober. “You’ve been awfully nice to me, Leah. Most Confederates would have had me hauled off right away.”
    Leah said quickly, “Well, I guess I’m not a real Confederate. I mean, we live in Kentucky, and that’s kind of a border state. It’s not on either side.”
    â€œBut your pa, he works for the Union army, don’t he?”
    â€œNot exactly,” Leah said. “He’s a sutler. He follows the army and sells things to the soldiers: shaving soap, letter paper and pens and things like that. And he gives lots of Bibles away and tracts.”
    â€œTracts? What’s a tract?”
    Leah thought,
He doesn’t know anything!
Aloud she said, “It’s just a little writing telling something about God and about the Christian life. I think Uncle Silas has some. I’ll bring you one when I bring the Bible.” Then she stood up. “I’ve got to go now. I’m glad you’re better.”
    Young Ezra Payne stood up with her. “I sure am grateful for your help,” he said. He reached out his hand suddenly and said, “I’d like to shake your hand.”
    Leah put her hand out slowly, and he grasped it.
    His hand felt no larger than her own, he was so thin. But he pressed hers warmly.
    â€œGood night, Ezra. I’ll see you tomorrow. Be sure you stay out of sight. There’s a young Confederate soldier staying with us tonight. I wouldn’t want him to see you.”
    â€œA friend of yours?”
    â€œYes, I’ve known him a long time. His name’s Jeff Majors.