ommission. As a rule rich people in the South did not think much
of poor white trash. The latter were good enough to fight and obey
orders, but scarcely good enough to be treated with civility; so when
General Howard told his visitor to turn up the cracker box and sit down
on it, the orderly straightway made up his mind that Rodney Gray was a
little better than the common run of folks, even if he was a private
soldier.

"I don't suppose you have thought of me once since I bid you good-by at
that woodcutters' camp," said the general, throwing himself upon a rude
couch and propping his head up with his hand. "But I have often thought
of you, and a few months ago I was down Mooreville way on a scout. I
passed right by your father's plantation, and finding out who he was,
and being a trifle hungry besides, I dropped in and invited myself to
dinner with him and your mother."

Rodney was delighted to hear this, but all he said was that he hoped the
general had enjoyed his visit.

"I assure you I did, and the dinner too," was the smiling reply. "And
during the hour I passed there I learned a good deal concerning your
life in Missouri, and heard some portions of your letters read. Your
parents were much surprised to know that I met you on your way up the
river, and I renewed to them the promise I believe I made you on the
steamer that if I could ever do you a fatherly kindness I would. I am
glad to see you in my brigade, but I don't quite understand how it comes
that you are still a private. Haven't you done your duty, or wouldn't
your officers push you?"

"The fault is my own, sir," answered Rodney. "I might have gone higher
but I didn't care to."

Then he went on to tell the general about Dick Graham. The latter was a
Barrington boy too, he said, and they had made it up between them that
it wouldn't be worth while for them to accept promotion, for they had
only a year to serve, and besides they did not want to run the risk of
being separated.

"Oh, as to that, you mustn't expect to stick together all the time,"
replied the general. "The exigencies of the service will not admit of
it; you know that yourself. Still I will try to do something for your
friend too, if I find upon inquiry of your regimental and company
officers that he is worthy. I lost four of my staff at the battle of
Farmington, and, if you like, will order you and Sergeant Graham to
present yourselves for examination."

Rodney fairly gasped for breath,