The Return Home 229 



wounded, four times taken prisoner, and fought in 

 thirty-two battles of the Civil War, now old and 

 feeble, survives him, and it was indeed pathetic to 

 see his grief. Bert's mother, who is a Cherokee, 

 was raised in my grandfather's family. The words 

 of commendation which you wrote upon Bert's dis- 

 charge are the greatest comfort to his friends. They 

 wanted you to know of his death, because he loved 

 you so. 



"I am planning to entertain all the Rough Riders 

 in this vicinity some evening during my holiday va- 

 cation. I mean to have no other guests, but only 

 give them an opportunity for reminiscences. I re- 

 gret that Bert's death makes one less. I had hoped 

 to have them sooner, but our struggling young col- 

 lege salaries are necessarily small and duties ardu- 

 ous. I make a home for my widowed mother and 

 an adopted Indian daughter, who is in school ; and as 

 I do the cooking for a family of five, I have found 

 it impossible to do many things I would like to. 



"Pardon me for burdening you with these details, 

 but I suppose I am like your boys, who say, The 

 Colonel was always as ready to listen to a private 

 as to a major-general.' 



"Wishing you and yours the very best gifts the 

 season can bring, I am, 



"Very truly yours, 



"ALICE M. ROBERTSON/' 



Is it any wonder that I loved my regiment? 



