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.