Our gallant Company C, officered by Captain Bartlett and Lieutenants Stoneman and Stone, was ordered to another post early in August; and its departure caused such universal regret that no one supposed Company H, under Captain Frisbie, could fill its place.  Nevertheless, that handsome young officer soon found his way to the good-will of the people, and when Captain Joe Hooker brought him out to visit grandma’s dairy, she, too, was greatly pleased by his soldierly bearing.  After he mentioned that he had heard of her interest in the company which had been called away, and that he believed she would find Company H equally deserving of her consideration, she readily extended to the new men the homelike privileges which the others had enjoyed.  Thus more friends came among us.

Notable among mine was the old darkey cook at headquarters, from whom Georgia and I tried to hide, the first time she waddled out to our house.  She searched us out, saying: 

“Now, honeys, don’t yo be so scared of dis ole Aunt Lucy, ’cos she’s done heared Captain Hooker tell lots ’bout yos, and has come to see yos.”

Her face was one great smile, and her voice was so coaxing that she had little difficulty in gaining our favor, the more so, as upon leaving, she called back, “I’s surely g’wine ter make dat little pie and cake I’s promised yos, so yos mustn’t forgit to come git it.”

On one occasion, when I was sent to the post on an errand, she had no pie or cake; but she brought out a primer and said thoughtfully, “I’s g’wine ter give yo dis A-B-C book, ’cos I want yo should grow up like quality folks.”

Its worn leaves showed that its owner had studied its first few pages only; and when I replied, “Grandma says that I must not take everything that is offered me,” she chuckled and continued: 

“Lawd, honey, yo needn’t have no ’punctions ‘bout takin’ dis yer book, ’cos I couldn’t learn to read nohow when I was a gal, and I’s too ole to now.  Now, I wants yo to be nice; and yo can’t, lessen yo can read and talk like de Captain done tole me yo mudder done.”

I was delighted with the book, and told her so, and hugged it all the way home; for it had a beautiful picture near the back, showing a little girl with a sprinkling pot, watering her garden of stocks, sweet-williams, and hollyhocks.  Her hair was in four long curls, and she had trimming on her dress, apron, and long pantalets.  I was also impressed by the new words which I had heard Aunt Lucy use, “’punctions,” and “quality folks.”  I repeated them over and over to myself, so that I should be able to tell them to Georgia.

Our last visit to Aunt Lucy must have been prearranged, for as she admitted us, she said, “I’s mighty glad yos done come so soon, ’cos I been ‘specting yos, and mus’ take yos right in to de General.”

I had never seen a general, and was shy about meeting one, until after she assured me that only cowards and bad men feared him.