_Mrs. T._ Hush, child! not a word against him. He was a good, kind father, and a husband to be proud of. In all his troubles he never would touch a cent of the money we had put by to push Rob through college. That was safely locked up; and the lad came through with all the honors. _Mattie._ What good can his learning do him now? _Mrs. T._ That remains to be seen. When the call came for men, our boy, bless him! stepped out with the first, and enlisted for the war. Then came the hard blow, hardest of all to bear. My own dear, noble husband breathed out his life in my arms, and joined the true and noble in that better land. Hark! I hear Robert's step. (MATTIE _rises, and goes up_ _to the window_. ROBERT _enters slowly door in flat; comes down, places his hand on the back of his mother's chair_.) _Rob._ Mother, the farm has gone. We are homeless. _Mrs. T._ (_wipes her eyes, and endeavors to suppress emotion_). Yes, Rob, the old home is ours no more. Perhaps it is as well we made a change. Now he who, who (_rises, and stretches out her arms_)—O Rob, Rob! I can't bear it; I can't bear it. (_Sobs, and falls upon his neck._) _Rob_ (_embracing her_). O mother! this should not have been. Had I known the worst, I could have prevented it. I have strong arms and a cool head. I could have managed the farm. I thought father was so comfortably settled; and now my enlistment binds me. Oh, I could have done bravely! _Mrs. T._ (_recovering_). And you will do bravely now, where every true man should stand in the hour of his country's peril, in the ranks of brave defenders. Fear not for us: there's a power of strength in these old arms yet, and a stout heart to struggle; ay, and a brave one. Am I not the mother of a man who leaves all to serve his country? _Rob._ Brave mother, you shall have a son to be proud of. _Mrs. T._ Right, boy. And my prayers and blessing shall cheer you on to victory. _Rob._ Yet you are homeless, mother. Our regiment is ready for the field: it only awaits the appointment of a colonel. I may be called away at an hour's notice. If I could only have secured the old home for you, I should have been content. _Mattie._ Rob, why did you not ask the assistance of Gaylie Gifford? She is rich, and I know would have helped us,—her old home too. _Rob._ Yes, her old home. Dear little girl! how fond we all were of her, and she of us! But she went away to school two years ago, perhaps has forgotten us. _Mrs. T._ Why, Rob, not a week passes but I have a letter from her; such a good, kind letter too! _Rob._ Yes, I know; and yet I could not _ask_ her assistance. _Mattie._ Perhaps you are right, Rob; but it does seem hard, after all the care and attention she has received from mother, she could do nothing for us. But they do say money makes inward changes as well as outward. Thank Heaven, we're out of its temptation!