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thirsty soldiers with a satisfaction which we all shared。 I had with me a small flask of strong waters； to be used as a medicine in case of inward grief。 From this； also； he dispensed relief； without hesitation； to a poor fellow who looked as if he needed it。 I rather admired the simplicity with which he applied my limited means of solace to the first…comer who wanted it more than I； a genuine benevolent impulse does not stand on ceremony； and had I perished of colic for want of a stimulus that night； I should not have reproached my friend the Philanthropist； any more than I grudged my other ardent friend the two dollars and more which it cost me to send the charitable message he left in my hands。
It was a lovely country through which we were riding。 The hillsides rolled away into the distance； slanting up fair and broad to the sun； as one sees them in the open parts of the Berkshire Valley； at Lanesborough； for instance； or in the many…hued mountain chalice at the bottom of which the Shaker houses of Lebanon have shaped themselves like a sediment of cubical crystals。 The wheat was all garnered； and the land ploughed for a new crop。 There was Indian corn standing； but I saw no pumpkins warming their yellow carapaces in the sunshine like so many turtles； only in a single instance did I notice some wretched little miniature specimens in form and hue not unlike those colossal oranges of our cornfields。 The rail fences were somewhat disturbed； and the cinders of extinguished fires showed the use to which they had been applied。 The houses along the road were not for the most part neatly kept； the garden fences were poorly built of laths or long slats； and very rarely of trim aspect。 The men of this region seemed to ride in the saddle very generally； rather than drive。 They looked sober and stern； less curious and lively than Yankees； and I fancied that a type of features familiar to us in the countenance of the late John Tyler； our accidental President； was frequently met with。 The women were still more distinguishable from our New England pattern。 Soft； sallow； succulent； delicately finished about the mouth and firmly shaped about the chin； dark…eyed； full…throated； they looked as if they had been grown in a land of olives。 There was a little toss in their movement； full of muliebrity。 I fancied there was something more of the duck and less of the chicken about them； as compared with the daughters of our leaner soil； but these are mere impressions caught from stray glances； and if there is any offence in them； my fair readers may consider them all retracted。
At intervals； a dead horse lay by the roadside； or in the fields； unburied； not grateful to gods or men。 I saw no bird of prey； no ill…omened fowl； on my way to the carnival of death； or at the place where it had been held。 The vulture of story； the crow of Talavera； the 〃twa corbies〃 of the ghastly ballad； are all from Nature； doubtless； but no black wing was spread over these animal ruins； and no call to the banquet pierced through the heavy…laden and sickening air。
Full in the middle of the road； caring little for whom or what they met； came long strings of army wagons； returning empty from the front after supplies。 James Grayden stated it as his conviction that they had a little rather run into a fellow than not。 I liked the looks of these equipages and their drivers； they meant business。 Drawn by mules mostly； six； I think； to a wagon； powdered well with dust； wagon； beast； and driver； they came jogging along the road； turning neither to right nor left；some driven by bearded； solemn white men； some by careless； saucy…looking negroes； of a blackness like that of anthracite or obsidian。 There seemed to be nothing about them； dead or alive； that was not serviceable。 Sometimes a mule would give out on the road； then he was left where he lay； until by and by he would think better of it； and get up； when the first public wagon that came along would hitch him on； and restore him to the sphere of duty。
It was evening when we got to Middletown。 The gentle lady who had graced our homely conveyance with her company here left us。 She found her husband； the gallant Colonel； in very comfortable quarters； well cared for； very weak from the effects of the fearful operation he had been compelled to undergo； but showing calm courage to endure as he had shown manly energy to act。 It was a meeting full of heroism and tenderness； of which I heard more than there is need to tell。 Health to the brave soldier； and peace to the household over which so fair a spirit presides！
Dr。 Thompson； the very active and intelligent surgical director of the hospitals of the place； took me in charge。 He carried me to the house of a worthy and benevolent clergyman of the German Reformed Church； where I was to take tea and pass the night。 What became of the Moravian chaplain I did not know； but my friend the Philanthropist had evidently made up his mind to adhere to my fortunes。 He followed me； therefore； to the house of the 〃Dominie。〃 as a newspaper correspondent calls my kind host； and partook of the fare there furnished me。 He withdrew with me to the apartment assigned for my slumbers； and slept sweetly on the same pillow where I waked and tossed。 Nay； I do affirm that he did； unconsciously； I believe； encroach on that moiety of the couch which I had flattered myself was to be my own through the watches of the night； and that I was in serious doubt at one time whether I should not be gradually； but irresistibly； expelled from the bed which I had supposed destined for my sole possession。 As Ruth clave unto Naomi； so my friend the Philanthropist clave unto me。 〃Whither thou goest； I will go； and where thou lodgest； I will lodge。〃 A really kind； good man； full of zeal； determined to help somebody； and absorbed in his one thought； he doubted nobody's willingness to serve him； going； as he was； on a purely benevolent errand。 When he reads this； as I hope he will； let him be assured of my esteem and respect； and if he gained any accommodation from being in my company； let me tell him that I learned a lesson from his active benevolence。 I could； however； have wished to hear him laugh once before we parted； perhaps forever。 He did not； to the best of my recollection； even smile during the whole period that we were in company。 I am afraid that a lightsome disposition and a relish for humor are not so common in those whose benevolence takes an active turn as in people of sentiment； who are always ready with their tears and abounding in passionate expressions of sympathy。 Working philanthropy is a practical specialty； requiring not a mere impulse； but a talent； with its peculiar sagacity for finding its objects； a tact for selecting its agencies； an organizing and art ranging faculty； a steady set of nerves； and a constitution such as Sallust describes in Catiline； patient of cold； of hunger； and of watching。 Philanthropists are commonly grave； occasionally grim； and not very rarely morose。 Their expansive social force is imprisoned as a working power； to show itself only through its legitimate pistons and cranks。 The tighter the boiler； the less it whistles and sings