just as
though he had done some mean thing. I am willing he should go, and he
wouldn't be a son of mine if he wasn't ready to go and fight for his
country, and die for her too, if there was any need of it. I didn't think
Thomas would serve me in this way."

"I don't believe he has."

"I know he's gone. I like his spunk, but if he had only come to me and
said he _must_ go, I wouldn't have said a word; but to go off without
bidding us good by--it's too bad, and I didn't think Thomas would do such
a thing."

Mrs. Somers rose from her chair, and paced the room in the highest state
of agitation and excitement. The rockers were not adequate to the duty
required of them, and nothing less than the whole floor of the kitchen was
sufficient for the proper venting of her emotion.

"Do you mean to say, mother, that you would have given him leave to go,
even if he had teased you for a month?" asked John.

"Certainly I should," replied his mother, stopping short in the middle of
the floor. "I'm ready and willing to have my boys fight for their country,
but I don't want them to sneak off as though they had been robbing a
hen-roost, and without even saying good by to me."

"If Tom were here, do you mean to say you would let him go?" demanded
John, earnestly.

"Certainly I do; I mean so. But I don't think there is any need of boys
like him going, when there are men enough to do the fighting."

"You told Tom he shouldn't go."

"Well, I didn't think he really meant it. If he had--What's that, John?"
asked she, suddenly, as a noise at the window attracted her attention.

"Only the cat, mother."

"If Thomas or you had asked me in earnest, and there was need of your
going, I wouldn't have kept either of you at home. I would go to the
poorhouse first. My father and my brother both fought for their country,
and my sons shall when their country wants them."

"Then you are willing Tom should go?"

"I am, but not to have him sneak off like a sheep-stealer."

"Three cheers for you, mother!" sh