rton shows that you have pluck enough for anything. I should
be very glad to have you go; but what does your father say?"

"He hasn't said anything. He isn't at home. He went away before Sumter was
fired upon by the rebels."

"True--I remember. What does your mother say?"

"O, she is willing."

"Are you sure, Tom?"

"Of course, I am. Suppose you write something by which she can give her
consent, and she will sign it."

Captain Benson drew up the document, and when Tom went home to dinner, he
presented it to his mother for her signature.

"I hope you won't back out, mother," said he, as she put on her
spectacles, and proceeded to ascertain the contents of the document.

"Back out of what, Thomas?"

"I've signed the muster roll, and I belong to Captain Benson's company
now."

"You!" exclaimed Mrs. Somers, lowering the paper, and gazing earnestly
into the face of the young man, to discover whether he was in earnest.

"Yes, mother; you said you were willing, and I have signed the papers; but
Captain Benson wants your consent in writing, so that there shall be no
mistake about it."

The mother read the paper in silence and sadness, for the thought of
having her noble boy exposed to the perils of the camp and the march, the
skirmish and the battle, was terrible, and nothing but the most exalted
patriotism could induce a mother to give a son to his country.

"I don't want to sign this paper, Thomas," said she, when she had finished
reading it.

"Have you forgot what you said the other night, mother?"

"No, I haven't forgot it, and I feel now just as I did then. If there is
any real need of your going, I am willing you should go."

"Need? Of course there is need of soldiers. The President wasn't joking
when he called for seventy-five thousand men."

"But there are enough to go without you."

"That's just what everybody might say, and then there wouldn't be anybody
to go."

"But you are young, and not very strong."

"I'm old enough, and strong enough. When I can get a day to myself, I
don't think it's any great hardship to carry father's heavy fowling-piece
from sunrise to sunset; and I guess I can stand it to carry a musket as
long as any of them."

"You are only a boy."

"I shall be a man soon enough."

"When you have gone, John will want to go too."

"No, mother, I don't want to go into the army," said John, with a sly wink
at his brother. "I shall never be a soldier if I can help it."

"What