HOW I GOT MY OVERCOAT. 151 



was off for Fort Trumbull. I felt an almost 

 parental sorrow over his going, and had much 

 misgiving as to his ability to face his ill-bred 

 soldier comrades. There came soon after a let- 

 ter to say that he was well treated personally, 

 only the rations were so horrible; pork and salt 

 beef and beans and molasses. He could not eat 

 such things, and he was growing faint for want 

 of food. I had seen such dainty appetites cured 

 too often to have any fear on this score, and 

 only replied in general terms of encouragement, 

 and asked for frequent letters. These came. 

 There were no incidents of his life that were 

 not described almost with wonder, for a noble 

 officer of the Gardecorps of the king of Prussia 

 knows really nothing of the ways of life of the 

 men he is supposed to command. Often there 

 were thick letters for the fiancee, and answers 

 to these (also thick) had often to be forwarded. 

 I felt the enthusiastic glow natural to one who 

 carries alone the tender secrets of- younger 

 lovers, and was not altogether unhappy under 

 the subjective romance of my mediation. 



