were, the cause of the war between them, how nations fought in those
days, what gods they worshiped, and added, 'Let me read you a little
of it.'

"'Why, in course,' said Jordan. 'If yo' ken make a blamed thing out er
it, we'd all like to har it; wouldn't we, boys?'

"They all assented. I was just out of school and read pretty well.

"So I opened the volume at random and it happened to be in Book XVI.,
where Pelides consents that Patroclus shall put on his own armor and lead
his Myrmidons into the fight, where Achilles arouses and sets in array
his terrible warriors, has the steeds yoked and prays Dodonian Jove to
give to his friend the victory, and then to grant him safe return. After
reading ten minutes, I closed the book, and asked Jordan if I should read
anymore.

"'Sarten,' he said. 'That war fine. It are like that mornin' at
Murfreesborough when all thar bugles war callin' 'nd ther big guns war
beginnin' ter roar.'

"Then I opened at the beginning and read right along for an hour. All the
company were greatly excited, declaring 'it war fine.'

"I read to them every evening the winter through, read the Iliad entire,
and in the meantime Jordan had sent to Galveston for more books, begging
me to select them, and declaring he would fill the house with them if I
would only 'steer his buyin' so as not by his purchases 'ter make a holy
show' of himself.