Page:Women worth emulating (1877) Internet Archive.djvu/80

64 says, "We were all completely web through when we arrived, and had everything to unpack, and beds to contrive and arrange" She adds, "we are all very well and much amused with the little misfortunes that happen to us"

It is wonderful to think of her cheerfulness; for Mrs. Smith, in a letter on the same subject, says, "We arrived at the barracks, dripping wet. Our baggage not come, and, owing to the negligence of the quarter-master, there was not even a bed to rest on. The whole furniture of our apartments consisted of a piece of a cart-wheel for a fender, a bit of iron for a poker, a dirty deal table, and three wooden-bottomed chairs. It was the first time we had joined the regiment; and I was standing by the fire meditating on our forlorn state, and perhaps dwelling too much on the comforts I had lost, when I was roused from my reverie by Elizabeth exclaiming, 'Oh, what a blessing"'

"'Blessing!' I replied; 'there seems none left.'

"'Indeed there is, dear mother; for see, here is a little cupboard.'

"I dried my tears, and endeavoured to learn fortitude from my daughter."

That lovely and gifted daughter immediately set to work to make a meal for the family, and to put the little cupboard to use for holding necessaries; and with characteristic ingenuity and good humour, she contrived a little luxurious surprise for the