Ladies' Relief and Sanitary Association. They selected me for my courage
to go to the front and distribute this load. But I guess I'll have to go
too near that row of rebs if I'd give them out in person. I'll unhitch
here and feed my mules. You don't think thar's any danger of them
grey-coats disturbing me, do you? I should hate to have all these good
things fall into their hands."

I inquired what he had, to which he replied with apparent amazement:
"Shirts, stockins, bakin' powder, condensed milk, canned apples, peaches,
Boston beans, tobacco, hair oil, tooth powder, cathartic pills, Jamaiki
ginger, and fine tooth combs----Whoa thar--stop your infernal kickin. Them
durned mules are worse than two-year-old heifers."

The wearied animals had become all tangled up in the harness, and I
thought I'd steal some of the eatables for my company while he was freeing
and feeding the mules. He gave me a better opportunity however. There was
a patch of peanuts or groundnuts a short distance away. He asked me to
mind his mules while he went to see what they were and how they grew. When
he left me I got into the wagon and loaded myself down with everything
until I could carry no more. Then I conceived an idea, and if he would
only remain away long enough I could carry the thing out. I found a small
hatchet in the wagon, and with my tin cup began digging a hole near the
wagon. I worked like a beaver for awhile, at the same time keeping my eye
on the peanut patch. The size of the receptacle would be determined by the
length of time the old man remained away. Finally I got a hole made about
the size of a bushel basket, and thought I'd take no more chances. I
scrambled into the wagon and threw out cans of milk, etc., until the hole
was completely filled. I had just nicely covered it up when my friend
returned and asked:

"What YOU been diggin' for thar--them durned things too? Why, durn them,
I'd just as lieve eat raw beans."

I looked up in a guilty sort of way and told him, "I was digging for a
shell that lit there while he was gone."

"Ge-whiz! I guess I'd better get out of this place as quick as I can. I
say, Mister, whar's your Comp'ny?"

"What's alive of them are at the front, suffering from want and hunger," I
replied in a strong manner, thinking perhaps he would drive nearer and
distribute his load. But he was bent on going back. As he climbed to his
seat he said, "I'll tell you, Mr. Sergeant, you kin take a few of these