“God bless the lady that knit these socks!” exclaimed Tom, as he began to draw on the other.
“Amen!” replied Hapgood, who was watching the operation in full sympathy with his protege.
“Eh! what’s this?” added Tom, for his foot had met with an obstruction in its passage down the leg.
He pulled off the sock, and thrusting his hand into it, took therefrom a letter enclosed in an envelope.
“See that, uncle?” said he, exhibiting the prize.
“What is it, Tom? Open it quick,” replied Hapgood.
The soldier boy broke the envelope, and took from it a note enclosing a photograph. Tom looked at the picture with a feeling of pleasure, which would have caused the original of the miniature, the author of the note, and the author of the socks, to blush up to her eyes if she had beheld the expression of admiration which glowed upon the handsome, manly face of the young sergeant.
“By all that’s lovely, isn’t she a beauty!” exclaimed Tom, rapturously, as he glanced from the picture to Hapgood, who was looking over his shoulder.
“She’s hahnsome, and no mistake,” replied the veteran, with a grim smile.
“Well, she is!” added Tom, whose eyes were riveted to the photograph.