How we cite our quotes: (Chapter.Paragraph)
Quote #10
Captain Betts looked grim and hard. […] "Tim, go over and ring the church bell. Get cracking."
I didn't want to get into it, but I had to obey. I started toward the door, but my mother grabbed my collar. "No, no," she said. "Not my boy. You don't involve any more Meekers in this terrible war. Send your own child out to play soldier if you want, Stephen Betts, but no more of mine."
Betts stared at Mother. "Where's your patriotism, woman?"
"Bah, patriotism. Your patriotism has got my husband in prison and one of my children out there in the rain and the muck shooting people and likely to be dead any minute and my business half ruined. Go sell your patriotism elsewhere, I've had enough of it." (11.21-24)
Mrs. Meeker doesn't care for this abstract idea of "patriotism." She looks at the facts: she's missing two family members, and her business is going under. Patriotism hasn't done any favors for Mrs. M, so she figures she doesn't owe it a thing.