ut I don't know what the people would do without it and don't see how
it can be given up for a long time. They can't get things as cheap
anywhere else, but they cannot understand that it is of no advantage
to us. When I told them yesterday they must not hurry me, for I had to
put everything down so as to keep a correct account to send to the
Quartermaster and people who sent the things, they were quite
surprised, and when in explaining the state of the case to them I
remarked that I was not even paid for the trouble, Binah said she
would not take the trouble then; and they can't understand that any
one should.

Other comments on this laborious shop-keeping are: [Feb.
23]. What with sugar and dry goods upstairs, and flour,
pork, and salt down, it's busy, not to say nasty work. [Apr.
9.] Mr. P.'s molasses fell short about $5.00 on the barrel!
Yet you can't convince the people he is not making heaps of
money, and I, too, for the matter of that. [June 6.] A
stranger the other day asked me for a looking-glass that he
might see how his new hat looked, and then informed me that
I ought to keep lemonade for my friends! But such things are
rare, and so ludicrous that one doesn't mind.

FROM H. W.

_Feb. 22._ I heard Uncle Sam read the first three chapters of Genesis,
which he translated into his own lingo as he went along, calling the
subtile serpent the most "amiable" of beasts, and ignoring gender,
person, and number in an astonishing manner. He says "Lamb books of
life," and calls the real old Southern aristocracy the gentiles! His
vocabulary is an extensive one--I wish his knowledge of the art of
cooking were as great!

_Feb. 25._ I was in full tide with my A B C's when I saw two mounted
officers pass the window. They presently appeared at the door of the
school-room, one of them with a General's stars, addressing me and
asking about the school. But he did not introduce himself, and I was
in profound ignorance as to who it might be. They came, apparently, to
see the place, and while they walked on the beach I got up what lunch
I could. The title had an immense effect upon Robert; when I told Sam
I must have the water boiled to give the General some coffee, he
opened his eyes as wide as the gate, and Rose, who came to ask for the
key of the corn-room for him to feed the horses, was such a comical
sight, as she stared with mouth and eyes and then dropped a curtsey in
the middle o