as though he understood it all, yet it was evidently a very happy
surprise; he said not one word, but handed it to his wife, supposing
that the rest knew of it. She jumped up from the table and threw her
arms around my neck and wept for joy. This procedure seemed to puzzle
the rest of the family, as they were totally ignorant of the contents of
the paper.

"'Mother,' exclaimed Peter, 'what is all this?'

"Col. Anderson said: 'Aunt, do you not know what it is?'

"'No, indeed,' she replied.

"I then revealed the secret of my keeping the fact quiet about Tom
having been commissioned as a Brigadier-General

"Peter at once said: 'Well, that settles the question in our regiment;
and I am truly glad, for two reasons: first, that Col. Anderson has been
promoted, and, second, that it leaves our regiment intact.'

"All congratulated the Colonel and were happy over it. Old Aunt Martha
who was waiting on the table that morning shouted out 'Glory! Dat's jes'
what I sed; dat de good Laud was gwine to keep Massa Tom for some big
thing, so he do good. I know'd it.'

"We all felt that it was due him and all were glad. Upon looking up I
discerned tears in Jennie's eyes, I knew in a moment her thoughts, but
said not a word. Her darling child, Sarah, had died, and of course
she was sensitive and easily touched. After breakfast I took the first
opportunity to say to her: 'My dear child, don't feel badly; your
husband's promotion will come very soon.'

"This seemed to cheer her up, and all went on well and pleasantly. No
one seemed to understand Jennie's tears but myself, and I was very
quiet on the subject. Sure enough, the very next day she got a letter
from David, telling her that he had been promoted and assigned to the
command of a brigade. This made us all doubly happy, and caused us to
forget our grief for a time. The two children did not quite understand
all this. But Aunt Martha, to whom the children had become quite
devoted, was in her very peculiar way explaining it all to the children,
and yet she knew but little more about it than they did, and between her
explanations and their understanding of it, made it very amusing indeed.

"Two days afterwards Peter left for his command, which was still
encamped on the battle-field of Pittskill Landing. He felt as though he
could do camp duty if no more. He wore the same sad countenance that had
become fastened upon him since he had been pondering over his mother's
dream.

"Co