"Frank Manly! 'Whom not to know argues one's self unknown.' Your most obedient, ma'am,"--bowing and scraping. "Your son has attracted the attention of the officers, and made himself pop'lar with every body. Mabby ye haven't heerd----" "I've heard," interrupted the anxious mother. "But how is he? Tell me that!" "Wal, he was a little grain more chirk last night, I was told. He has had a fever, and been delirious, and all that--perty nigh losing his chance o' bein' promoted, he was, one spell! But now I guess his life's about as sure's his commission, which Cap'n Edney says there ain't no doubt about." "So young!" said Mrs. Manly, trembling with interest. "He's young, but he's got what we want in officers--that is, sperit; he's chock full of that. I take some little pride in him myself," added the private. "We was almost like brothers, me and Frank was! 'In the desert, in the battle, in the ocean-tempest's wrath, we stood together, side by side; one hope was ours, one path!'" "This, then, is Seth Tucket!" exclaimed Mrs. Manly, who knew him by his poetry. "That's my name, ma'am, at your service!" And Seth made another tremendous bow. "But I see," he said, "you're anxious; ye want to git to the hospital. I tell ye, Frank'll be glad to see ye; he used to rave about you in his delirium; he would call '_mother! mother!_' sometimes half the night." "Poor child! poor, dear child!" said Mrs. Manly. "I can't wait! help me, sir,--show me the way to him, if nothing more!" "Hello!" shouted Seth. "Whose cart is this? Where's the driver of this cart? It's been standin' here this hour, and nobody owns it." He jumped into it. "Who claims this vehicle? 'Who so base as would not help a woman? If any, speak! for him have I offended!' Nobody? Then I take the responsibility--and the cart too! Hop in, ladies. Here's a board for you to set on. I'll drive ye to the hospital, and bring back the kerridge before Uncle Sam misses it." The women were only too glad to accept the invitation, and they were soon seated on the board. Seth adjusted his anatomy to the edge of the cart-box, and drove off. But he soon stood up, declaring that a hungry fellow like him couldn't stand that board,--he was too sharp set. Mrs. Manly did not venture to ask again about Atwater,--what he had already said of him having gone so heavily to the poor wife's heart. But she could inquire about the old drum-major, who, she had heard, was wounded. "Old Sinjin? Wal! I'm in jest the same dilemmy consarning him as Atwater. They've both been sick and at the pint of death ever sence the fight. Now one of 'em's dead, and t'other's alive. A chap that was at the hospital told me this morning, 'One of them sickest fellers in your regiment died last night," says he; 'I don't know which of 'em,' says he. And I haven't had a chance yet to find out." "O, haste then!" cried the young wife. "May be my husband is living still!"