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to see how they reverence.him, and almost as much for his goodness as for his greatness.
April 1, 1864.
My diary has been somewhat neglected, for after looking over commissary accounts for six hours in the day, and attending to home or hospital duties in the afternoon, I am too much wearied to write much at night.
There are reports of movements in the armies which portend bloody work as the season advances.
Oh that the
Lord may have us in his holy keeping!
We continue quite comfortable at home.
Of course provisions are scarce; but, thanks to our country friends and relatives, we have never been obliged to give up meat entirely.
My brother-in-law,
Mr. N., has lately sent us twelve hams, so that we are much better supplied than most persons.
Groceries are extremely high.
We were fortunate in buying ten pounds of tea, when it only sold for $22 per pound.
Coffee now sells for $12, and
brown sugar at $10 per pound.
White sugar is not to be thought of by persons of moderate means.
Milk is very scarce and high, so that we have only had it once for many months; and we, the Colonel, Mr.--, and myself, are very glad to get a cup of tea, night and morning, sweetened with
brown sugar, and without milk or cream.
Before the war we would have scorned it, but now we enjoy it exceedingly, and feel ourselves very much blessed to have it. The girls have given up tea and coffee; I attempted to do it, and for several days drank only water, but such is the effect of habit upon old people, it made me perfectly miserable; I lost my elasticity of spirit; the accounts in the office went on heavily, everybody asked me if I had heard any bad news, and the family begged me not to look so unhappy.
I struggled and strived against the feeling, but the girls pronounced me utterly
