This American Civil War story by Ambrose Bierce develops an increasingly ominous tone after a six-year-old boy becomes lost in the woods while playing soldier. He mysteriously sleeps through a bloody battle, wakes to find himself confronted by hundreds of badly wounded and dying soldiers, and silently “leads” them towards a red glow, which turns out to be his burning home. As he stands making “animal noises” over the gory remains of his dead mother, we learn the reason for some of his unusual behavior. Themes: the fantasy (glory) vs. reality (horror) of war, perception (childhood innocence vs. adult awareness).
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