You may wonder that we do not leave such work entirely to the men, but they understand “picking them over” in the sense of “picking and stealing;” and I am afraid that unless we assisted there would be few left for the sick when the work was done. The men are always ready and glad to help us in anything that we allow them to do; indeed, I have often been surprised at the promptness with which they offer their services to spare us in every way; to carry and empty water for us, to run our errands, to watch our fire; in short, to render any little service which is most needed at the moment, and which we should naturally do for ourselves, unless the offer were made. Enter a group of women--I humbly beg their pardon--ladies, I should have said. Ah! I know too well their errand before they speak. Persons have been coming all the week for the same purpose. “Can we see the rebel? Please to show us the ward where the rebel is confined?” “I am sorry, ladies, but it is quite impossible----” “Eight punches for our ward, Miss ----, are they ready?” “Yes, Williams, standing on the shelf there; take them on that waiter.” “The surgeon in charge has given strict orders that no visitors are to be admitted to that ward, as there are some men dangerously ill there, and he wishes it kept perfectly quiet.” “But we’ve come a great way to see him, and we must get in.” “Are you friends of his? If so, I will see the surgeon about it.” “Friends of a rebel! Not exactly, thank you. We want to see what he’s like.” “I am sorry, but you cannot see him. However, I can assure you that he is exactly like any of these men you see around you; were you to go into the ward you could not distinguish him, unless he were pointed out to you.” Enter a man, with a large glass bowl of jelly. “Mrs. ----’s compliments, and please give me the bowl to take back.” _Mem._ Jelly to be emptied; nothing to empty it into. During the search, gloomy party gaze moodily upon the operation, but show no signs of departure. “Brown says, ma’am, you promised to poach him a couple of eggs for his dinner; he sent me to see if they were done.” “It is not dinner time yet; tell him they shall be ready when he hears the drum tapped.” “Have you a flannel shirt, miss, for this man? he’s just come in.” Look at the indignant party; they are evidently returning to the assault. “Where’s the head doctor? He’ll let us in, we’ll see if he won’t!” “The Surgeon in charge is not here at present; the Officer of the Day is in the office; you must have seen him when you were admitted.” “Oh, yes! not him; some friends told us to ask for the ladies; that’s the way we got in; we knew they kept the rebel so close, no use to ask for him.” A woman with a basket of eggs. “Some eggs from Mrs. ----; please let me have the basket.”