and grief; I tremble. My sons are
going to volunteer. I am grieved for fear they will never return. Oh!
Mary! I had such a terrible dream about all the family last night. Oh!
I cannot think of it; and yet I want them to go. God knows I love my
country, and would give all--life and everything--to save it. No, I
will not discourage them. I will tell you my dream when I have more
strength.'

"Just then my blessed old wife fainted. Mary screamed, and we all rushed
into the parlor and found her lying on the floor with Mary bending over,
trying to restore her. We were all startled, and quickly lifted her
up, when she seemed to revive, and was able to sit in a chair. In a few
moments she was better, and said:

"'I am all right now; don't worry. I was so startled and overcome at the
thought that so many of my dear children were going to leave me at once
and on such a perilous enterprise.'

"To this Peter answered:

"'Mother, you ought not to grieve about me. Being an old bachelor, there
will be but few to mourn if I should be killed.'

"'Yes; but, my son, your mother loves you all the same.'

"Just then a rap was heard at the window. It being open, a letter was
thrown in upon the floor. I picked it up. It was addressed to 'Thos.
Anderson.' I handed it to him. He opened it, and read it to himself, and
instantly turned very pale and walked the floor. His wife took his arm
and spoke most tenderly, asking what it was that troubled him.

"'Mary, dear, I will read it,' he said, and unfolding the letter, he
read aloud:

"'Jackson, Miss., June -- 1861.

"'Dear Tom--You have been denounced to-day in resolutions as
a traitor to the Southern cause, and your property
confiscated. Serves you right. I am off to-morrow morning
for the Confederate Army.
Good-by.
Love to sister.

"'Your enemy in war,

"'JOS. WHITTHORNE.

"'Mary sank into a chair. For a moment all were silent. At last Tom
exclaimed:

"'What is there now left for me?"

"His wife, with the stateliness of a queen, as she was, her black hair
clustering about her temples and falling around her shoulders and neck,
her bosom heaving, her eyes flashing fire, on her tip-toes arose to her
utmost height. All gazed upon her with admiration, her husband looking
at her with a wildness almost of frenzy. She clenched both hands and
held them straight down by her side, and exclaimed in a tone that would
have made a lion cower: