. I was quite touched by the friendliness of
it all. They laid the cradle on the table and departed. Jack went out
to bring Major Worth in, to see the pretty sight, and as the two entered
the room, Jack pointed to the pappoose-basket.

Major Worth tip-toed forward, and gazed into the cradle; he did not
speak for some time; then, in his inimitable way, and half under his
breath, he said, slowly, "Well, I'll be d--d!" This was all, but when he
turned towards the bedside, and came and shook my hand, his eyes shone
with a gentle and tender look.

And so was the new recruit introduced to the Captain of Company K.

And now there must be a bath-tub for the baby. The cutler rummaged his
entire place, to find something that might do. At last, he sent me a
freshly scoured tub, that looked as if it might, at no very remote date,
have contained salt mackerel marked "A One." So then, every morning at
nine o'clock, our little half-window was black with the heads of the
curious squaws and bucks, trying to get a glimpse of the fair baby's
bath. A wonderful performance, it appeared to them.

Once a week this room, which was now a nursery combined with bedroom and
living-room, was overhauled by the stalwart Bowen. The baby was put to
sleep and laced securely into the pappoose-basket. He was then carried
into the kitchen, laid on the dresser, and I sat by with a book or
needle-work watching him, until Bowen had finished the room. On one of
these occasions, I noticed a ledger lying upon one of the shelves. I
looked into it, and imagine my astonishment, when I read: "Aunt Hepsey's
Muffins," "Sarah's Indian Pudding," and on another page, "Hasty's Lemon
Tarts," "Aunt Susan's Method of Cooking a Leg of Mutton," and "Josie
Well's Pressed Calf Liver." Here were my own, my very own family
recipes, copied into Bowen's ledger, in large illiterate characters;
and on the fly-leaf, "Charles Bowen's Receipt Book." I burst into a good
hearty laugh, almost the first one I had enjoyed since I arrived at Camp
Apache.

The long-expected promotion to a first lieutenancy came at about
this time. Jack was assigned to a company which was stationed at Camp
MacDowell, but his departure for the new post was delayed until the
spring should be more advanced and I should be able to undertake the
long, rough trip with our young child.

The second week in April, my baby just nine weeks old, we began to pack
up. I had gained a little in experience, to be sure, but