Spirit of the age., 1863-10-26
3N1stella
TOR THE SPIRIT OF THE AGE.
a VISIT TO A MILITARY POST.
BY ERATO.
CHAPTER FIRST.

tude, we espied "our friend" The
being over, we proceeded to
our boarding house. The next day
we awoke to find the rain falling in
torrents, and we were compelled TO re-
sort to in door amusement. For two
days the rain continued to fall, spoiliog
all our plans for visiting " camp" Tho
third day the rain ceased, the Gun
came forth in unclounded splendor, and
we determined to make use of the
sunshine" by visiting our friends at
the Ordnance department. The Sergt.
occupies a real house, with two rooms
one used as a kitchen, dining-room and
saddler's shop; the other serves as
bedroom anil parlor. With our friends
permission, we examined every thing
carefully. Seeing a large box, We ask
ed for what it was used, and what it
contained! "That is our cupbosrd,"
triunphantly. exclaimed one of our
friends. " You see," he continued, eve
keep every thing in ordsr." When he
raised the lid there was a general burst
of laughter. For there in wild confu-
sion were articles of every kind. "And
this" we said to our friends, " is your
idea of order !" We intended to take
a list Of the articles, bnt failed to do it;
and will give such as we remember -
A large roll of leather besides various
scraps, some nails, few pieces of iron,
"spnr," socks, flannel, and a quanti-
ty of linen that a0e did not examine
there were " ham bones," little parcels
of -four, meal, rice, sugar, pepper, po-
tatoes, salt, jar of lard, plate of but
ter, plate Of fried ham, several slices
of bread, and plate of buiscuit then
there was a Gun, sabre, pipe and
other articles that we cannot now re-
member. And these articles were all
thrown intothe box together, presenting
quite the reverse OF "order" to wo-
mans mind. We turned away with
merry laugh, telling oar friends they
were great house, keepers. The " lodg-
ings" were nicely spread, the box that
served as writing desk, made quite a
literary appearance, the house, with
the exception of the cupboard" look
Ell very neat.
We were agreeably surprised at the
dinner. We had imagined that a SOL
dier would cook rather a poor dinner {;
but It was as nicely served up as any
old e mamma" could have done it
Some of the knives aud forks looked
rather ancient, and some of the plates
looked a little "green ;" the tin cups
out of which we slipped nice cool wa
ter did quite as we'll as nicely cut COB
lets. Every thing was novel to "we
folks" from the interior, and we enjoy
ed it very much.
After dinner some friends called
bringing cavalry horses with thei
equipments. We were soon in tn
saddle and prepared for dash an.
where. We visited a gunbost, rushe'
through town, and out to the parad
ground of - Regiment. They wer
Just forming in hollow square,
presently we saw the hats all remove
the heads revereutly bowed, th
chaplain standing in their midst offere
o prayer to the Great Ruler Of th
universe. How beautiful the sight J.
The warriors for a time forgetting WE
ON the field offer to Ged praise an
thanksgiving. Prayer over, We turne
our horses toward home, fully deter
mined to see more of our soldier frienc
and learn more of their manner
living. We relished the supper OF
" hostess" had prepared; then o.
friends came to call" and the I" de
closed with pleasure"
The clouds we're dark and loweril
next morning when we arose, aud '
thought of trying to sleep again, as Il
only means of passing away the tediol
rainy hours. The day at last passe
as long twelve hours as we had eV
found. Sabbath morning dawned a
not a cloud bedimmed the sky!
nature seemed bright and beautiful
May morning. Away we went
preaching" in camp" Some ki
riends gave US seats in front of
.Colonsls tent; near BY US the minis
stood the bugle had sounded, and
soldiers gathered in a semi-circle
front of the Chaplain. Eminent l
vines in crowded ssnctuaries do not
ten have such attention as was glN
Al oil