hristmas time, so associated is winter with snow and frozen ears
and good times to me. It is hard to recognize it in this mud and rain
with bare, frozen ground for days. But it is not always to be thus. I am
as happy in anticipation of hard-tack and salt junk for to-morrow's
dinner, as many that count on roast turkey and "fixings". And still many
at home are not happy. I can fancy the heavy cloud that hangs over their
hearts as they are anxiously awaiting the return of us from the field.
Yes, they think of us morn, noon, and eve. May we be true to their
memory and return with a clear conscience, unsullied by the vices of
camp.

Fort Gillem, Sunday, Dec. 25. Christmas. A warm day, misty and muddy.
All is quiet. Health very good. 8 A. M. had our regular Sunday morning
inspection, after which Griff and I attended church. Were there in time
for Sabbath school, went in and listened to the sweet melody "There is a
Happy Land", and "Homeward Bound", which sounded very sweetly to my ear.
Read the 2nd chapter of Matthew in concert, then went above to listen to
a sermon from the 13th and 14th verses of the same chapter. The
Calvinistic dogmas preached stronger than I ever listened to from an
American pulpit. Did not like it at all.

Returned to feast on Irish potatoes, Uncle Sam's Christmas dinner. Mail
received. Brought us news of a dinner having been started us from home.
At night Griff and I attempted to while away the remaining hours by
sundry attempts at singing, but we retired early, and the third
Christmas in the army was gone.

Fort Gillem, Monday, Dec. 26. On detail for wood. Went out to our front
line of works. Took the rails comprising the walls of the works that
were never needed.

[Sidenote: 1864 Presents for the "Boys"]

Captain Hood and two of the boys with mule wagons went to town early to
look for the big box expected. We had just eaten a dinner of coffee and
hard-tack when they arrived, and lo! the box, really a huge thing, was
there, weighing nearly four hundred pounds. About twenty of the Spring
Green boys interested, but all were permitted to taste something "from
home". I received thirty lbs. of baked chickens, pies, small and big
cakes made by Mary and Esther. Griff and D. also received a lot. The
sweetmeats were soon eaten and distributed with little regard to health,
and the chickens and nice rolls of butter took the place of our dishes
in ammunition boxes. Dishes go under the bed. Such things ar