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and had disappeared forever。
From his home his youthful eyes had looked upon the war in his own
country with distrust。 It must be some sort of a play affair。 He had long
despaired of witnessing a Greeklike struggle。 Such would be no more； he
had said。 Men were better； or more timid。 Secular and religious
education had effaced the throat…grappling in… stinct； or else firm finance
held in check the pas… sions。
He had burned several times to enlist。 Tales of great movements
shook the land。 They might not be distinctly Homeric； but there seemed
to be much glory in them。 He had read of marches； sieges； conflicts； and
he had longed to see it all。 His busy mind had drawn for him large pictures
extravagant in color； lurid with breathless deeds。
But his mother had discouraged him。 She had affected to look with
some contempt upon the quality of his war ardor and patriotism。 She
could calmly seat herself and with no apparent difficulty give him many
hundreds of reasons why he was of vastly more importance on the farm
than on the field of battle。 She had had certain ways of expression that
told him that her statements on the subject came from a deep con… viction。
Moreover； on her side； was his belief that her ethical motive in the
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The Red Badge of Courage
argument was impregnable。
At last； however； he had made firm rebellion against this yellow light
thrown upon the color of his ambitions。 The newspapers； the gossip of
the village； his own picturings had aroused him to an uncheckable degree。
They were in truth fighting finely down there。 Almost every day the
newspapers printed accounts of a decisive victory。
One night； as he lay in bed； the winds had carried to him the
clangoring of the church bell as some enthusiast jerked the rope frantically
to tell the twisted news of a great battle。 This voice of the people
rejoicing in the night had made him shiver in a prolonged ecstasy of ex…
citement。 Later； he had gone down to his mother's room and had spoken
thus： 〃Ma； I'm going to enlist。〃
〃Henry； don't you be a fool；〃 his mother had replied。 She had then
covered her face with the quilt。 There was an end to the matter for that
night。
Nevertheless； the next morning he had gone to a town that was near
his mother's farm and had enlisted in a company that was forming there。
When he had returned home his mother was milking the brindle cow。
Four others stood waiting。 〃Ma； I've enlisted；〃 he had said to her
diffidently。 There was a short silence。 〃The Lord's will be done；
Henry；〃 she had finally replied； and had then continued to milk the brindle
cow。
When he had stood in the doorway with his soldier's clothes on his
back； and with the light of excitement and expectancy in his eyes almost
defeating the glow of regret for the home bonds； he had seen two tears
leaving their trails on his mother's scarred cheeks。
Still； she had disappointed him by saying nothing whatever about
returning with his shield or on it。 He had privately primed himself for a
beautiful scene。 He had prepared certain sen… tences which he thought
could be used with touching effect。 But her words destroyed his plans。
She had doggedly peeled potatoes and addressed him as follows： 〃You
watch out； Henry； an' take good care of yerself in this here fighting
businessyou watch out； an' take good care of yerself。 Don't go a…
thinkin' you can lick the hull rebel army at the start； because yeh can't。
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The Red Badge of Courage
Yer jest one little feller amongst a hull lot of others； and yeh've got to keep
quiet an' do what they tell yeh。 I know how you are； Henry。
〃I've knet yeh eight pair of socks； Henry； and I've put in all yer best
shirts； because I want my boy to be jest as warm and comf'able as anybody
in the army。 Whenever they get holes in 'em； I want yeh to send 'em
right…away back to me； so's I kin dern 'em。
〃An' allus be careful an' choose yer comp'ny。 There's lots of bad men
in the army； Henry。 The army makes 'em wild； and they like nothing better
than the job of leading off a young feller like you； as ain't never been away
from home much and has allus had a mother； an' a…learning 'em to drink
and swear。 Keep clear of them folks； Henry。 I don't want yeh to ever do
any… thing； Henry； that yeh would be 'shamed to let me know about。 Jest
think as if I was a…watchin' yeh。 If yeh keep that in yer mind allus； I
guess yeh'll come out about right。
〃Yeh must allus remember yer father； too； child； an' remember he
never drunk a drop of licker in his life； and seldom swore a cross oath。
〃I don't know what else to tell yeh； Henry； excepting that yeh must
never do no shirking； child； on my account。 If so be a time comes when
yeh have to be kilt or do a mean thing； why； Henry； don't think of anything
'cept what's right； because there's many a woman has to bear up 'ginst sech
things these times； and the Lord 'll take keer of us all。
〃Don't forgit about the socks and the shirts； child； and I've put a cup of
blackberry jam with yer bundle； because I know yeh like it above all
things。 Good…by； Henry。 Watch out； and be a good boy。〃
He had； of course； been impatient under the ordeal of this speech。 It
had not been quite what he expected； and he had borne it with an air of
irritation。 He departed feeling vague relief。
Still； when he had looked back from the gate； he had seen his mother
kneeling among the po… tato parings。 Her brown face； upraised； was
stained with tears； and her spare form was quiver… ing。
10 RED BADGE OF COURAGE。
He bowed his head and went on； feeling suddenly ashamed of his
purposes。
From his home he had gone to the seminary to bid adieu to many
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The Red Badge of Courage