sentimental way upon his disappointment. He wears such an air of
meek resignation when he speaks of his cruel fair one that the
effect is quite irresistible, and I find it difficult to accord
him that sympathy which his unhappy fate demands. Fortunately for
him, his troubles, deep-seated as they are, appear to have very
little effect upon his appetite. He sits down to his rations with
a look of subdued sorrow upon his face, and sighs frequently
between the mouthfuls. In spite of this, however, he seldom
leaves anything upon his tin plate, which speaks well for his
appetite, since Uncle Sam is a generous provider, and few of us
do full justice to our allowance.

"You may wonder how I enjoy soldier's fare. I certainly do long
sometimes for the good pumpkin and apple pies which I used to
have at home, and confess that a little apple sauce would make my
hardtack a little more savory. I begin to appreciate your good
qualities as a housekeeper, Mary, more than ever. Pies can be got
of the sutler, but they are such poor things that I would rather
do without than eat them, and I am quite sure they would try my
digestion sorely.

"There is one very homely esculent which we crave in the camp--I
mean the onion. It is an excellent preventive of scurvy, a
disease to which our mode of living particularly exposes us. We
eat as many as we can get, and should be glad of more. Tell Frank
he may plant a whole acre of them. They will require considerable
care, but even in a pecuniary way they will pay. The price has
considerably advanced since the war began, on account of the
large army demand, and will doubtless increase more.