"'Ef yoh can't gimme sumpin' fer my ole man, doctah, he's jes boun' ter die,' she kept saying over and over. Well, the doctor questioned her, and came to the conclusion that a good sweat would be about the proper caper to recommend, and he told her to cover him up well, and then to take some sage--they all have that in the garden and mighty little else--and, said he, 'take about so much and put it in something and then measure out exactly one quart of water and boil it and pour over the sage. Then make him drink it just as hot as he can. Now don't forget so much sage and exactly a quart of water.' "'Yeh think thet's agoin't' cuah (cure) my ole man, doctah?' says she. "'I think it is the best thing for him now. Be sure to make it as I told you--so much sage and a quart of water.' "'You kin bet I'll fix her up all right, doctah, ef thet's a goin't' cuah my ole man.' Then she tramped back home. The next day she appeared bright and early, and wanted that doctor man again. 'Well, my good woman, I hope your husband is feeling a good deal easier after his sweat. I---- "'Naw 'e hain't nuther. My ole man, he hain't scooped out on the inside like you Yanks is, I reckon.' "She looked pretty worried. 'How's that? How's that?' asked the doctor. "'Wal,' says she, 'I jest hoofed hit home es quick es ever I could, an' I tuck an' medjured out thet there sage an' the water--jest edzactly a quat--an' I fixed her up an tuck hit t' the ole man. I riz his head up, mister--fer he's powerful weak--an' he done his plum best t' swaller hit, but the fust time he didn't git mo'n halft down till he hove the hull of hit up agin. I went back and I medjured up thet there sage agin an' the water an' tried him agin, but he hove her up _'fore_ he got haift down. But I never stopped till I tries her agin, an' that time, doctah, he didn't _git_ halft down. Now, doctah, thet there ole man er mine he don't _hold_ but a pint. I reckon you Yanks is scooped out thinner than what we alls is.' "We boys just yelled, but the poor soul loped off to her pint-measure old man without seeing a bit of fun in it. She was mad as a wet hen when the doctor told her she needn't make him drink it all at one fell swoop. She vowed he had told her that the first time, and it's my impression that she now suspects the Yankees of trying to burst her old man. I've laughed over it all day, so I thought I'd write it to you, but it don't seem half so funny in writing as it was to hear it. "Give little Margaret this ring I put in. I cut it out of a piece of laurel root. I expect it is too big for her, but she can have some fun with it I reckon. There isn't any more news, only one of our cannons exploded the other day. It didn't do much damage. I'm not sure that I've spelled some of these words right, but my unabridged is not handy and I'm not sorry.