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Show !)8 ROEBUCK . that circmn~Utnce, he 1ook ec1 at hi~ wi.f'e :t.: if he t<>1t 1 · ty to " c 1·tain the in11wes ' lOll 1t 1nadc on llHlC l :111XlC .. l (" her 1 nin<.1. lie " rn.s accnston1ccl to con:-inl t h 'l' a bon t every in1portant step in life, bn.t here was one, f .the last im})OrLance to thmn all, w·1uch he h~< l taken WlLh-ont knowing h er opinion. "You've done right, Abrahmn," she prononnccLl <.lcci,. i vc1 y. " \V ell, Bet y, I thon <Yht yon, c1 . ay so, fr .Ill o ~n· talk la 't night, but I coul<.ln't be ca. yin 1ny Hlln<l ttll I'd tell you all a.bout it, anu h0::tl' how it ,vould look to you then." "You've done right, Abrn.han1. It's v ery han.1 on us, but you ought to fight for Virginny." "But, Bet~·y," he ·aiLl ' vith so1ne h sitation, "I've got to furni~ ·h a h of4B, and I' vc agr e<l to. swap tho rnnle for one." '' "\Ve can'L well spare the 111Hle. Tiut," t>hc :Hlde<1 after son1e re.fl ction, "the g romtd i nen,rly aH plowed. "\Ve 1nut-t git along ·with the hoe and tbo spade. It will be more 'vork, but ·we'll clo it." "I reckon you could borrow a mule son1cLin1C:::i for half a day." "We'll w·ork, Abraham, 'vhilc you fight." Durillg this eonver .. 'ation :1\Iark 'va ~· at first silent and attentive; then he bec~nnc excited n.nd even Llgitated. lie sat on a rough stool ncar the ch iuutey. Becoming restless, he rose a.nd wall~ea to the door ; then he ·went back and sat down. lli:; eyes Iixctl with eager interest no'v upon his fath er's face, rtn<l now upon his 1nother'::>, attracted her uotiee. "Well, :1\fark,'' she asked, "\vhut are you thinking about ~ ,, . "Can't I volunteer too ?'' he cx<~lainH. .' < l wi'h flash- 1ng eyes. HOEllUCK "God bless the boy!" sa1 · < cl tll C lllOt 11 Cl' a yen,r or t·wo olcl er " 'C mi gll~ 1 ' fi l ' v 1ave two 1 g· lL for onr conn try." ""I f he ' vas so11iors to "01dcr! \Vh y not no,v '? l ' b. I 'nl strong ; I'In h ealthy.. ~:lll rg c.nough, mother; now ?" ' 1 activo. \Vhy not Tlu. s ''ras Lh c first intim~t' 1 ccivecl of J\Iark's vchcJncnt, :-rlO~. t, le parent.R JJa'1 r e- 1'1 . Ctesu c to becorn .. l l ' lC ccrt:un ty of w·1-r '''" ~ ~ e .L so < tcr. , ti l .} tOO r ecent t J Jnnch cliscu '~ i on in th•tt 1 l l o lave eause<.l not disclo ·eJ to his l) .'li'e ~c Ju.c c<. ~alJjn, and 1le had way UI) to t] • lhS us n ot ('1' · 1 1e r:-tn - of lOll o J' .QJ 'httnoo · ] 1.i..1 ...1., patriotic "\V'tt· ~llot.ll l'" a genL1cnlan "\vhcnevcr a • • n ( occur. The 1 ~ other 111 doubt and 1-:i:-tt • 1 . Y ookccl :1 t cnuh . '' '' lCYO Vlll o-thcq C · nundR. AtJcn<Yth \b··I· :=> HCS lOHiutlteit· " . o .1 Ll. l.lln f'nut- .1\lark, IL wo n't do for ' Oll , l yonr mothrr and Ri~ ter." ) ,uH ll1e both to lea o "Ifourcountrynecds o b 1 " . take care of Fr, I l y u ot l , saHl Betsy " I'll :.J tl':.t, anc our Ilea 1 l ;l ' care of us all." • vcn Y (ather " 'ill take "I wu. ;h I was a m· " soldier." , 1 · I ( ;tn, cxc :un1ccl Eliza, "I' <1 be a "n ut, .1u\f ark, "\Ve ain't g·ot b father. ut one hoss," said tho "Le t ' s sco, Abraham. 1 't I ho~ cs to the cavalry ?"' con t le govenunent give "N . o ; llarn 1JlC "\vay is D . .. . . own hoss an< L tl OI el¥ ely n1an to fetch his j . ' lC govcrn1ncut t . or t.he usc of hi Ill. , o p.ty so Hltteh a Jay · " \Ve ll ' " sai<.l J\I·. u· k after · · · · tunc on this ol· ·t· ·I ' I nnlJilfLLing ior a Jonn· ther hor e 1u) · ·•t e .c' ' ' I d 0 11 'L lc nowhow to gct:1no~- 1 · ->lLt,, iatller jf 1 L' c oa't you t il. ]- ' on y Olle OJ. H:; c:tn o·o m \. yon hn.<l 1J tt . <=> ' me go '? Yon .· .. . c cr stay at home :w<.L let , d '\lllbeo (In o rc u -~ · t J Svan a soldier' lif b . c .t lO Ill e, a a, l I ean 13 o ettcr thau you., |
