by strangers).  Nelly ran down to the gate, followed by her mother.  The gentleman had by this time descended.  One glance at the empty sleeve was enough, even if the kindly face had not been so little changed.  It was Colonel ——­, who, having business in Richmond, had “stopped off” at the wayside station for a few hours, that he might endeavor to find the Greys, and introduce to his wife and daughter the kind friends who had so faithfully nursed him when wounded, and also show them the scene of incidents often related to them.

The ladies having been introduced, the strangers accepted a cordial invitation to alight.  While they were chatting pleasantly upon the vine-shaded gallery, Mr. Grey rode into the yard upon a strong-looking white mule.  The greeting of the soldiers was courteous and pleasant.  The contrast between them was striking indeed.

The one clad elegantly and fashionably, his shirt-front blazing with diamond studs, his hair and beard luxuriant and carefully kept.  The pleasant eyes untroubled and smiling.  The other in the plain garb of one who must earn his bread, coarse but scrupulously neat.  The face bronzed from exposure, the hair damp with the sweat of toil, and yet, when the brown, hardened hand of the Virginia gentleman met the white clasp of the rich man of the North, Mr. Grey lost nothing by comparison.  Colonel ——­ having laughingly inquired after Maum Winnie, the whole party repaired to her cabin.  The old woman received her guests with stately politeness, holding her turbaned head high, as she majestically stalked before them to show, at their request, her chickens, ducks, and pigs.  She omitted nothing that was due to her visitors, but there was a strained politeness, and a rolling of her eyes toward them, which made Mrs. Grey uneasy and quite prepared her for what followed.  While Colonel ——­ was in the act of saying something which he thought would quite win the old creature’s heart, she looked up at him over her glasses, saying,—­

“Yer ain’t seen nuffin er dat ar fedder-bed yet, is yer?  Kase ole Miss she dun giv’ me dat ar bed too long to talk about, an’ ebery one ob dem fedders was ris rite on dis yere place.  ’Fore de Lawd, if ole Miss know I dun loss dat ar bed she gwine ter rise rite outen de grabe.”

Colonel ——­, remembering the scene of the disaster to Winnie’s feather-bed, felt inclined to laugh heartily, but wishing to mollify the old creature preserved his gravity while he offered her quite a handsome sum “to buy some more feathers.”  A look from Mr. Grey put a stop to the old woman’s talk.  Soon the visitors took their leave, having given and received most pleasant impressions.  Their visit recalled so vividly their time of trial and adventure that the Greys sat talking far into night.

The next morning Mr. Grey walked over to the cabin to administer a rebuke to Maum Winnie.  As he drew near the gate the quavering voice of the old woman was heard singing jerkily, and with a pause between every few words,—­