Well, Jem was to be a soldier and see a greater battle than had ever been fought in the world; but that was as yet far in the future; and the mother, whose first-born son he was, was wont to look on her boys and thank God that the brave days of old, which Jem longed for, were gone for ever, and that never would it be necessary for the sons of Canada to ride forth to battle for the ashes of their fathers and the temples of their gods.
In "Rainbow Valley," the narrative reflects on young Jem's aspirations to become a soldier and fight in significant battles. However, this ambition seems distant, as his mother, proud of her first-born, holds a contrasting perspective. She reminisces about the past but is grateful that such fierce and brutal times of conflict have passed, allowing her sons to grow up in peace.
The mother finds solace in the idea that Jem and...
