“Ah! poor old Mrs. Johns. She idolizes that boy.”
“And must Adam Johns go to war?” inquired Mrs. Bannister, anxiously.
“Yes, mother,” replied Bob. “He said he would go. He said he was sorry he had waited for the draft. And Henry Bradbury said he would take care of Adam’s mother. And a lot more said so too.”
“Oh, well!” rejoined Bannister, “such obligations rest lightly on the consciences of those who make them after the excitement and passion have died out. Poor Anna Johns will have to look out for herself if her boy goes. And if he dies, God help her! Who else were drawn, Robert?”
“Why, Elias Traviss. They said he would pay his three hundred dollars exemption money, though, and stay home; that he could well afford to do it.”
“Yes,” said Bannister, bitterly, “there lies the iniquity of the whole proceeding. The rich man may buy his release from service with money; the poor man must pay the price with his body, his blood, his life, perhaps. It’s barbarous; it’s inhuman!”
Then, all in a moment, Mary Bannister grasped the idea of purchased exemption.
“Why, Rhett!” she exclaimed, “you have that money in the bank, you know. If they come for you, you can pay them the three hundred dollars and stay at home, the same as Elias Traviss is going to do. Can’t he, Robbie?”
“Yes, mother, or hire a substitute the same as ’Squire Matthews did.”