SOW I GOT MY OVERCOAT. 153 



the sorrows of a helpless little child. However, 

 I wrote all I could to encourage him, and was 

 gratified, though a little surprised, to see how 

 soon he became cheerful again, and how ear- 

 nestly he seemed to have set about the work 

 of becoming a really good soldier. After a time 

 the captain of his company — still in New York 

 and maintaining a lively interest in the poor fel- 

 low's case — procured an order for him to go to 

 Annapolis to be examined for promotion. He 

 was already a sergeant, and a pretty good one. 

 He stopped in New York a few days on his way 

 through for some refitting, — again at my tailor's. 

 On his way back he stopped again to tell of his 

 failure. I was delicate about questioning him 

 too closely, but I learned enough to suppose that 

 different ideas as to practical education are en- 

 tertained by a board of army examiners and b}' 

 a fond young mother in the remote castle of 

 Schlodien ; but I encouraged him to believe that 

 a little more study would enable him to pass 

 the second examination that had been promised 

 him, and he rejoined his company. 



