York. It was a day of excitement, for the streets of the city were
thronged with people, whose cheers and applause were the benison with
which the regiment went forth to do and to die for the nation. Tom was
delighted with this warm reception, but more by meeting his mother and his
brother and sisters at the station. It was a joyous and yet a sad
meeting. Mrs. Somers wept; and what mother would not weep to see her son
go forth to encounter the perils of the battle-field, and the greater
perils of the camp?

It was a sad parting; and many a mother's heart was torn with anguish on
that day, when she pressed her noble boy to her bosom, for the last time,
as she gave him to his country. Cold, stern men, who had never wept
before, wept then--the flesh that was in their stony hearts yielded its
unwilling tribute to nature and affection.

"All aboard!" shouted the officers, when the train was ready to depart.

"God bless you, my boy!" sobbed Mrs. Somers, as she kissed her son. "Be
good and true, and don't forget to read your Testament."

"Good by, mother," was all that Tom could say, as he grasped his musket,
which John had been holding for him, and rushed into the car.

The train moved off amid the cheers of the thousands who had gathered to
witness their departure. At this moment, more than ever before, the
soldier boy realized what he had done when he entered the service. He
listened to the shouts of the multitude, but he was sad and silent. He
sank into his seat, and gave himself up to the anguish of the hour. On and
on dashed the train, and his thoughts still dwelt upon the home and the
mother he had left behind him.