't cry, mamma," in such a way when I put them to bed at
night, and tell them that I kiss them for you too, that it makes me
feel all the worse. I know it is wrong. I know our Heavenly Father
knows what is best for us. I hope by this time you have learned to
put your trust in him. That is the best preparation for the
battle-field.

Do not fail to come home if you can. God bless you, George, and
protect you, is the prayer of

Your loving wife,
MARY.

On a low cot in the corner of a hospital tent, near Potomac Creek,
propped up by some extra blankets kindly loaned him by his comrades,
toward the close of a December afternoon, lay a slightly-built, rather
handsome man of about thirty, holding with trembling hand the above
letter, and hurriedly gathering its contents with an eager but unsteady
eye. The Surgeon noticing the growing flush upon his already fevered
cheek, suggested that he had better have the letter read to him. So
intent was the reader, that the suggestion was twice repeated before
heeded, and then only drew the remark "Mary and the boys." A sudden fit
of coughing that appeared to tear the very life strings came upon him,
and at its close he fell back exhausted upon his pillow.

"What luck, Adjutant?" inquired the Surgeon in a low tone, as he went
forward, cautiously treading among the sick, to admit that officer into
the tent.

The Adjutant with a shake of the head remarked that the application had
gone up two weeks previously from Brigade Head-quarters, and that
nothing had been heard of it since. "As usual," he added, "pigeon-holed
at Division Head-quarters."

"Poor Wilson has been inquiring about it all day, and I very much fear
that should it come now, it will be too late. He has failed rapidly
to-day."

"So bad as that? I will send up to Division Head-quarters immediately."

The Lieutenant, a week previously, had been brought into the hospital
suffering from a heavy cold and fever in connexion with it. For some
weeks he had been in delicate health; so much so, in fact, that the
Surgeon had urged him to apply for a furlough, and had stated in his
certificate to the same, that it was absolutely necessary for the
preservation of his life. As the Surgeon stated, a furlough, that might
then have been beneficial, promised now to be of little avail. The
disease had assumed the form of co