er and
poultices of white-oak ooze and slippery-elm bark; how they stopped
the bleeding with soot from the wooden chimney; how they dosed him
occasionally, when his wound seemed painful, with good whiskey that Ham
got up at the house on the hill (he had managed to force an entrance
somehow); and how every day they asked the Lord to heal his wound and
make him well, so he would take them away from their long suffering and
unhappy life. The story of the old woman was most interesting as well as
very amusing. The next morning we had bread, coffee and chicken, which
was relished by all, I assure you. The Colonel was fed on gruel and a
piece of chicken. Aunty, who had him entirely under her control, would
not allow him to eat anything else. After breakfast was over I asked
Aunty how she came to know Col. Anderson, and she in her way told me the
story of her having been hired out once by her master to Col. Anderson's
family before the Colonel was married, and she said:

"'Laud bressyou, chile, I know Massa Tom soon I put my eyes onto him.
Yes, sah. I neber let on, doe. He didn't know nuffin when they frowed
him out heah like a pig. No, sah. He was mos' dead, sho'. Dat's one time
he mos' done gone to glory, sho'. But he all right now; he come out. An'
when he do, oh, great Laud, don't I jes' want him to go for dem "Sesh."
Yes, I tell you, I do. Dar is no mistake on dat pint.'

"The day passed. The Colonel improved and conversed considerably with
his wife. We left them together all we could to enjoy their reunion.
He was very desirous of getting away and having the assistance of a
surgeon, who, however, could do no more for him than was being done.
In the afternoon late, however, there came an ambulance and the Post
Surgeon. This seemed to give new life and spirit to all. The Surgeon
entered the cabin, and, after pleasantly conversing about the Colonel
with us, proceeded to make an examination of his wound. Aunty was
determined to be present. She raised the Colonel up, and showed the
Surgeon where the wound was, its condition, etc. He said it was healing
rapidly, and would be well soon, but that he would be some considerable
time gaining sufficient strength to do any service. He said that aunty
ought to have a diploma; that she had treated him as skillfully as
anyone could have done, and much better than some might have done, Aunty
at once replied:

"'I tell you where you gib de "'plomas." You jes' gib dem to de Laud. He
is