; for to relate how he has fought his way up,
step by step, to a rank which was never more fairly earned, would require
a separate volume,--materials for which we may possibly find some day in
his own letters to his mother, and in those of Colonel Edney to his
sister Helen.

* * * *

Some extracts from a letter just received from the hero of these pages
may perhaps interest the reader.

"I cannot tell you, sir, how much astonished I was on opening the
package you sent me. I don't think the mysterious bundle that
contained the watch dear old 'Mr. St. John' gave me surprised me
half as much. I had never seen any _proof-sheets_ before, and hardly
knew what to make of them at first. Then you should have heard me
scream at Gray and Atwater. 'Boys,' says I, 'here's a story founded
on our adventures!' I sat up all that night reading it, and I must
confess I had to blush a good many times before I got through. I see
you have not called any of us by our real names; but I soon found
out who 'Abe,' and 'Seth,' and 'Jack Winch,' and all the other
characters are meant for. I have read ever so many pages to 'Seth'
himself, and he has laughed as heartily as any of us over his own
oddities. We all wonder how you could have written the story, giving
all the circumstances, and even the conversations that took place,
so correctly; but I remember, when I was at your house, you kept me
talking, and wrote down nearly every thing I said; besides which, I
find there was a good deal more in my journal and letters than I
supposed, when I consented to let you have them and make what use of
them you pleased. Little did I think then, that ever such a book as
the 'Drummer Boy' could be made out of them.

"You ask me to point out any important errors I may notice, in order
that you may correct them before the book is published. Well, the
night the row was in camp, when the 'Blues' cut down the captain's
tent, the company was ordered out, and the roll called, and three
other fellows put under guard, before Abe and I were let off. I might
mention two or three similar mistakes, but I consider them too
trifling to speak of. There are, besides, two or three omissions,
which struck me in reading the wind-up of the story. 'Jack Winch'
went home, and died of a fever within a month. If it isn'