in fact, civilization, compared
with what we had left.

The women of the post gathered around the broad piazza, to see the
wonder. But when they saw the poor little wan face, the blue eyes which
looked sadly out at them from this rude cradle, the linen bandages
covering the back of the head, they did not laugh any more, but took him
and ministered to him, as only kind women can minister to a sick baby.

There was not much rest, however, for we had to sort and rearrange our
things, and dress ourselves properly. (Oh! the luxury of a room and a
tub, after that journey!) Jack put on his best uniform, and there was
no end of visiting, in spite of the heat, which was considerable even
at that early date in May. The day there would have been pleasant enough
but for my wretched condition.

The next morning we set out for Fort Whipple, making a long day's march,
and arriving late in the evening. The wife of the Quartermaster, a total
stranger to me, received us, and before we had time to exchange the
usual social platitudes, she gave one look at the baby, and put an end
to any such attempts. "You have a sick child; give him to me;" then I
told her some things, and she said: "I wonder he is alive." Then she
took him under her charge and declared we should not leave her house
until he was well again. She understood all about nursing, and day
by day, under her good care, and Doctor Henry Lippincott's skilful
treatment, I saw my baby brought back to life again. Can I ever forget
Mrs. Aldrich's blessed kindness?

Up to then, I had taken no interest in Camp MacDowell, where was
stationed the company into which my husband was promoted. I knew it
was somewhere in the southern part of the Territory, and isolated. The
present was enough. I was meeting my old Fort Russell friends, and under
Doctor Lippincott's good care I was getting back a measure of strength.
Camp MacDowell was not yet a reality to me.

We met again Colonel Wilkins and Mrs. Wilkins and Carrie, and Mrs.
Wilkins thanked me for bringing her daughter alive out of those wilds.
Poor girl; 'twas but a few months when we heard of her death, at the
birth of her second child. I have always thought her death was caused by
the long hard journey from Apache to Whipple, for Nature never intended
women to go through what we went through, on that memorable journey by
Stoneman's Lake.

There I met again Captain Porter, and I asked him if he had progressed
any in his courtship, an