and told us what had happened.  I hitched up and drove Boss over to Mr. Bobor’s.  We found the wounded man rapidly sinking; and when, a little later, his wife came, he could not speak—­only clasped her hand.  He died that night, and we carried his body to the home, which so short a time before, he had left in health and high spirits.  No casket was to be had—­everything of that kind had been consumed or shut out by the war.  Accordingly two slaves were ordered to make a coffin, which they did, using plain boards.  It was then covered with black alpaca from a dress of the madam, and lined with the cloth from Mrs. Dandridge’s opera cloak.  The regular material used for these purposes was not to be had.  By the time the coffin was ready, the body was so bloated, that it could not be got into it.  Resort was then had to a plain box, and in this the body of another of the stricken family group was laid away.  At the suggestion of old Master Jack, the coffin, was put up in the carriage house, for safe keeping, he saying it would do for him to be buried in.  Sorrow had come to this family with such crushing force, that their former pride and boastful spirit had given place to utter dejection.

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Substitutes for coffee.

During the war everything was scarce and dear, and substitutes were devised for many of those things which had formerly been regarded as the necessaries of life.  Sweet potatoes were peeled, then cut in small pieces and put out in the sun to dry.  They were then used as a substitute for coffee, when that article became so scarce, toward the close of the war.  Great quantities of this preparation were used.  Okra was another substitute for coffee.  It was dried in the pod, then the seeds shelled out, and these were dried again and prepared something as the coffee is.  This made a delicious drink when served with cream, being very rich and pleasant to the taste.  Quinine was a medicine that had been of almost universal use in the south; yet it became so scarce that it was sold at seven dollars a bottle, and could not often be had at that price.  Lemon leaves were used as a substitute in cases of chills and fever.  The leaves were made into a tea, and given to the patient hot, to produce perspiration.  During an attack of chills, I was treated in this manner to some advantage.  At any rate I got well, which can not always be said of all methods of treatment.

CHAPTER IV.

Rebellion weakening—­slaves’ hopes strengthening.

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M’GEES slaves taken to Alabama.