lf sorrow--for she thought
how "poor dear Jack" would feel as each new object came before him,
reminding him of some thoughtful care, some anticipation of this or that
casualty; and when at last all seemed packed and nothing forgotten, she
arose and crossed the room towards a little shelf, from which she took a
small volume, and, kissing it twice fervently, laid it in the box. This
done, she knelt down, and with her head between her hands, close pressed
and hidden, prayed long and fervently. If her features wore a look of
sadness as she arose, it was of sadness not without hope; indeed,
her face was like one of those fair Madonnas which Raphael has left
us,--faces where trustfulness is more eminently the characteristic than
any other quality.

Her long letter was nearly completed, and she sat down to add the last
lines to it. It had grown into a sort of Journal of her daily life, its
cares and occupations, and she was half shocked at the length to which
it extended. "I am not," wrote she, "so unreasonable as to ask you to
write as I have done, but it would be an unspeakable pleasure if you
would let me give the public some short extracts from the letters you
send me, they are so unlike those our papers teem with. The tone of
complaint is, I know, the popular one. Some clever correspondents
have struck the key-note with success, and the public only listen with
eagerness where the tale is of sufferings which might have been spared,
and hardships that need not have been borne. But you, dear Jack,
have taken another view of events, and one which, I own, pleases
me infinitely more. You say truly, besides, that these narratives,
interesting as no doubt they are to all at home here, exercise a baneful
influence on the military spirit of our army. Men grow to care too
much for newspaper distinction, too little for that noble _esprit de
camaraderie_ which is the finest enthusiasm of the service. I could not
help feeling as if I heard your voice as I read, 'I wish they would n't
go on telling us about muddy roads, raw coffee, wet canvas, and short
rations; we don't talk of these things so much amongst ourselves; we
came out here to thrash the Russians, and none of us ever dreamed it was
to be done without rough usage.' What you add about the evil effects
of the soldier appealing to the civilian public for any redress of
his grievances, real or imaginary, is perfectly correct. It is a great
mistake.

"You must forgive my having