Page:Southern Historical Society Papers volume 02.djvu/323

 January 13th—This is my birthday, and I am twenty-one years old. This is an important epoch in a man's life, when he "becomes of age," a "free man," and enjoys the privilege of voting. Its arrival, however, does not bring "freedom" to me.

January 14th and 15th—A sermon on Sunday from a Minnesota Methodist preacher.

January 16th, 17th and 18th—I received letters from Mr. J. M. Coulter, enclosing $5.00 in greenbacks, and offering to send me a suit of clothes, and from "Cousin" Mary Louise A——, of Martinsburg, proposing to send me a box of eatables. Miss Annie R——u, of Martinsburg, now on a visit to Washington, also wrote to me.

January 19th to 22d—Sunday.—Lieutenant Bryde and Captain Rankin received boxes of eatables, and generously invited us all to partake of the good things. The chickens, cheese, butter and biscuits were eaten with great relish.

January 23d—Superintendent Wood gave me a "permit" to receive clothing from Mr. Coulter of Baltimore, which I forwarded.

January 24th and 25th—Received a letter from Mr. Alfred Bennett, of Baltimore, telling me a friend of his in Washington would furnish me with any clothing I might need.

January 26th to 30th—A sentinel summoned me to the Superintendent's office, where I found Mr. Clark, who directed me to receipt for a box of clothing, just forwarded by express by my excellent friend, Mr. J. M. Coulter, of Baltimore. The box had been opened and its contents examined by Clark, who ordered the guard to carry it to room 9, where I gladly looked at the welcome and much needed articles. It contained a gray jacket, a pair of pants, two over and two undershirts, two pairs drawers, two pairs socks, two silk handkerchiefs, one pair shoes, two bars of soap and two combs. All my room-mates gathered around the box, looking admiringly at each article, as it was taken out, and warmly congratulating me on my good fortune. The noble friends (Mr. and Mrs. Coulter) who have thus gladdened me by their timely and generous present, have my warmest gratitude. Mrs. Coulter was the accomplished and wealthy Miss Joanna Douglas, of La Grange, Georgia, and we are known to each other only by family name and character. How my dear mother's gentle heart would warm towards them, and how earnestly would she invoke God's kindest blessing upon them, if she only knew of their disinterested, Christian conduct towards