During the writer's convalescence, his ravenous hunger was unsatisfied by the slender allowance. It happened that his bed ended up to a window, and his favorite occupation was to sit on his pillow and watch the proceedings in the yard below. Here was a servant's cottage occupied by two colored women who evidently had excused themselves from flight with their master. The older one moved about with quiet dignity and doubtless had been the "mamma" of the family. With evident pleasure she watched the new life and movement around her, and held in restraint her young and vivacious companion. In the yard soldier cooks prepared in large kettles great quantities of beef soup, which was ladled into pails, carried to the kitchen and served to the patients throughout the building. A young artilleryman from Olean, New York, lay on a straw pallet alongside that of the writer. The one was called "Olean" and the other "Michigan." From his post of observation at the window the latter, one morning, watched the handling of the soup below with an interest that could not be concealed. "Say, Michigan, what are you looking at?" inquired Olean. "I am looking at them pouring out the soup," was the reply, "and say, Olean, I wish I could have a good smell of it." "_Smell_ of the soup," said Olean contemptuously; "if I was a wishing I'd wish I _had_ some and not just a smell." Upon this sagacious remark, a number of the occupants of the other beds passed the wink or laugh with a feeble, hacking sound; their pinched faces brightening with a sense of mirth. The practical wisdom of the suggestion was not lost upon "Michigan," who said, "If I was a little stronger I would take my cup, go down the stairs and into the yard and I would say, 'Boys, I'm awfully hungry; please give me some soup.'" Ah-ah-ah, laughed "Olean." "Say, Michigan, I'll bet you five cents you can't walk the length of your bed and touch the door knob." Upon this challenge, the other patients from their pillows exchanged glances, several braced up on the elbow and discussed the possibility of one of their number leaving his room without permission to forage for refreshments. The concensus of opinion was that he could not succeed. "Who are you talking to?" vigorously responded "Michigan." "You think I can't do it; I'll show you what I can do." Grasping the projecting window moulding he helped himself to his feet, carefully balancing his trembling steps along the narrow space between the beds on the floor, and triumphantly grasping the knob of the door exclaimed, "There now, Olean; I've done it; I've done it. Where is your five cents?" "Oh, I haven't any five cents," replied Olean, "but say, Michigan, you would look mighty fine going down those stairs, wouldn't you?" Thereupon the observing comrades laughed in great glee; in weakness, like little children, a very trifling incident amused them; they nodded their heads at each other and exchanged approving glances.