"'Would that I were a man! I would not stop until the last traitor
begged for quarter!'

"Tom flew to her and embraced her, exclaiming:

"'I was only waiting for that word.'

"She murmured:

"'My heavens, can it be that there are any of my blood traitors to this
country?'

"The household were by this time much affected. A long silence ensued,
which was broken by David, saying:

"'Father, Harvey and I having agreed to go to Washington to enter the
army, I wish to make some arrangements for my family. You know I have
plenty for Jennie and the babies, and I want to leave all in your hands
to do with as if it were your own, so that the family will have such
comforts as they desire.'

"David's wife, Jennie, was a delightful little woman, with two beautiful
children--Jennie, named for her mother, and Sarah, for my wife. I said
to David that I would write to his brother James, who was a widower,
having no children, to come and stay with Jennie. I at once wrote James,
who was practicing medicine at Winchester, Va., that I feared it would
be 'unhealthy' for him there, so to come to me at once. This being
done and all necessary arrangements made, David and Harvey bade all an
affectionate farewell and started for their farm, leaving their mother
and Mary in tears. As their footsteps died away their mother went to the
door, exclaiming, "'Oh, my children! will I ever see you again?' "That
night we all joined in a general conversation on the subject of the war.
It was arranged that Peter should start next morning for Indianapolis to
see the Governor, and, if possible, obtain authority to raise a regiment
under the call of the President. This having been decided upon we all
retired, bidding each other good night. I presume there was little
sleeping in our house that night save what little Mary did, the poor
child being entirely unconscious of the excitement and distress in the
family. The next morning Peter took the train for Indianapolis, Tom went
down town to ascertain the latest news, and I took my horse and rode
out to David's farm, leaving the two women in tears, and little Mary
inquiring: "'What is the matter, mamma and aunty?' "I rode on in a deep
study as to the outcome of all this trouble. I came to David's house,
unconscious for a moment as to where I was, aroused, however, by hearing
some one crying as if in despair. I looked around and saw it was Jennie.
She stood on the door-step in great grief, the two children