We were living on parched corn.

I thought of a happy plan to get him a good dinner, so I asked him to let us go up to the colonel's tent.

Says I, "Colonel Field, I desire to introduce you to my father, and as rations are a little short in my mess, I thought you might have a little better, and could give him a good dinner." "Yes," says Colonel Field, "I am glad to make the acquaintance of your father, and will be glad to divide my rations with him.

Also, I would like you to stay and take dinner with me," which I assure you, O kind reader, I gladly accepted.

About this time a young African, Whit, came in with a frying-pan of parched corn and dumped it on an old oil cloth, and said, "Master, dinner is ready." That was all he had.