Page:The Story of Aunt Becky's Army-Life .djvu/146

110 tenacious holding to the idea of an intended insult, when no thought of one had entered their brains.

We had good and sufficient food, still some of the convalescents, with appetites sharpened by late fevers, failed to receive all which their voracious stomachs craved, and my tent became the repository for all odd bits from the cooks, and under its white shelter I dealt out the broken remnants, and wished I could augment the store by miracle or material means—I was not fastidious which, if the substance was only at my hand.

I knew one man who would eat three loaves of bread, with crackers in proportion, and still be hungered for more. My heart ached for him as his wistful eyes would scan my board for some bit of extra food remaining, and I gave him again and again.

The chief cook forbid the under men giving me these extra things—he was an enemy to "calico," and seemed to take particular pleasure in foiling me in attempts to get additions to a sick man's rations.

My great cloak, which enveloped my person completely, served me a good turn then—for many a chunk of dried beef, basins of custard, cans of milk, and balls of butter were smuggled out of the kitchen by the cooks under its ample folds, and the sick men brightened at my coming.

He moved on in his consequential dignity, unconscious how he was being outwitted, regarding me with glances which plainly said, "You are only a woman—I think you get only what I will you should out of this establishment." I contracted a dislike for