Page:The Story of Aunt Becky's Army-Life .djvu/152

116 books, which only a little while before lay on tables, and in peaceful libraries in his own beloved North.

I had so little to do in arranging my toilet that I enjoyed the look of surprise by which strangers signified their thoughts of my appearance. I presume I was called the worst dressed woman in the whole army, for a little satchel held my wardrobe after losing my trunk, and I certainly could not have cared for a "Saratoga" full of dresses and accompaniments.

My pair of bedtick dresses were strong, and would bear washing well, and when they were clean I gave no more attention to my attire, but with sleeves pinned up, had no scruples about going into any work for fear of soiling my dress.

I went to church so arranged, and enjoyed the sermons as thoroughly as though clad in a velvet robe, when those poor men with torn and dirty uniforms were waiting for me on beds of pain. My straw hat sheltered me from the scorching sun, and when, as often I did, it was taken from my head to cover a soldier's whose cap had gone in the battle's charge, Sanitary would furnish me another.

My feet were very comfortable in slippers three sizes too large for them, and as I had no matrimonial designs on that motley throng of men, it was all the same, and they welcomed me with my hands full of rations as kindly as though clad like a queen.

Heart entanglements were hardly safe then, as some found to their cost—too many men married, yet sported with ripe affections, when they were thrust upon them, and the poor deluded woman awoke to