ce. Charley was altogether the most
popular member of Company I, and every man knew how he had clung to
the turkey apiece idea.

"Never let on a word," said Sergeant Cunningham. "He'll think there's
a turkey for every man!"

The biggest bird, the least demoralized pie, a bologna sausage, and
the whole six apples were placed in the cloth that had covered the
box. I was told to carry the display to my poor "buddy."

As I marched down the row of tents a tremendous yelling arose from the
crowd round Cunningham's tent. I turned to look behind. Some man with
a riotous impulse had seized the box and flung its contents in the air
over the thickest of the crowd. Next moment the turkey was seized by
half a dozen hands. As many more helped to tear it to pieces. Barney
Donahoe ran past me with a leg, and two laughing men after him. Those
who secured larger portions took a bite as quickly as possible, and
yielded the rest to clutching hands. The bologna sausage was shared in
like fashion, but I never heard of any one who got a taste of the
pies.

"Here's your turkey, Charley," said I, entering with my burden.

"Where's yours, Ned?"

"I've got my turkey all right enough at Cunningham's tent."

"Didn't I tell you there'd be a turkey apiece?" he cried gleefully, as
I unrolled the lot. "And sausages, apples, a whole pie--oh, _say_,
ain't they bully folks up home!"

"They are," said I. "I believe we'd have had a bigger Thanksgiving yet
if it wasn't such a trouble getting it distributed."

"You'd better believe it! They'd do anything in the world for the
army," he said, lying back.

"Can't you eat a bite, buddy?"

"No; I'm not a mite hungry. But I'll look at it. It won't spoil before
to-morrow. Then you can share it all out among the boys."

Looking at the turkey, the sick lad fell asleep. Barney Donahoe softly
opened our door, stooped his head under the lintel, and gazed a few
moments at the quiet face turned to the Thanksgiving turkey. Man after
man followed to gaze on the company's favorite, and on the fowl
which, they knew, tangibly symbolized to him the immense love of the
nation for the flower of its manhood in the field. Indeed, the people
had forwarded an enormous Thanksgiving feast; but it was impossible to
distribute it evenly, and we were one of the regiments that came
short.

Grotesque, that scene was? Group after group of hungry, dirty
soldiers, gazing solemnly, lovingly, at a lone brown turkey and a
pallid