So did his mates , for he made friends with them all by sharing such small luxuries as came to him , for he was a favorite ; and , better still , he made sunshine in that sad place by the brave patience with which he bore his own troubles , the cheerful consolation he always gave to others . A droll fellow was Joe at times , for under his sobriety lay much humor ; and I soon discovered that a visit from him was more efficacious than other cordials in cases of despondency and discontent . Roars of laughter sometimes greeted me as I went into his ward , and Joe 's jokes were passed round as eagerly as the water-pitcher . Yet he had much to try him , not only in the ills that vexed his flesh , but the cares that tried his spirit , and the future that lay before him , full of anxieties and responsibilities which seemed so heavy now when the strong right arm , that had cleared all obstacles away before , was gone . The letters I wrote for him , and those he received , told the little story very plainly ; for he read them to me , and found much comfort in talking over his affairs , as most men do when illness makes them dependent on a woman . Jim was evidently sick and selfish . Lucindy , to judge from the photograph cherished so tenderly under Joe 's pillow , was a pretty , weak sort of a girl , with little character or courage to help poor Joe with his burdens . The old mother was very like her son , and stood by him `` like a hero , '' as he said , but was evidently failing , and begged him to come home as soon as he was able , that she might see him comfortably settled before she must leave him . Her courage sustained his , and the longing to see her hastened his departure as soon as it was safe to let him go ; for Lucindy 's letters were always of a dismal sort , and made him anxious to put his shoulder to the wheel . `` She always set consider ` ble by me , mother did , bein ' the oldest ; and I would n't miss makin ' her last days happy , not if it cost me all the arms and legs I 've got , '' said Joe , as he awkwardly struggled into the big boots an hour after leave to go home was given him . It was pleasant to see his comrades gather round him with such hearty adieus that his one hand must have tingled ; to hear the good wishes and the thanks called after him by pale creatures in their beds ; and to find tears in many eyes beside my own when he was gone , and nothing was left of him but the empty cot , the old gray wrapper , and the name upon the wall . I kept that card among my other relics , and hoped to meet Joe again somewhere in the world . He sent me one or two letters , then I went home ; the war ended soon after , time passed , and the little story of my Maine lumberman was laid away with many other experiences which made that part of my life a very memorable one . III Some years later , as I looked out of my window one dull November day , the only cheerful thing I saw was the red cap of a messenger who was examining the slate that hung on a wall opposite my hotel . A tall man with gray hair and beard , one arm , and a blue army-coat . I always salute , figuratively at least , when I see that familiar blue , especially if one sleeve of the coat is empty ; so I watched the messenger with interest as he trudged away on some new errand , wishing he had a better day and a thicker pair of boots . He was an unusually large , well-made man , and reminded me of a fine building going to ruin before its time ; for the broad shoulders were bent , there was a stiffness about the long legs suggestive of wounds or rheumatism , and the curly hair looked as if snow had fallen on it too soon . Sitting at work in my window , I fell into the way of watching my Red Cap , as I called him , with more interest than I did the fat doves on the roof opposite , or the pert sparrows hopping in the mud below . I liked the steady way in which he plodded on through fair weather or foul , as if intent on doing well the one small service he had found to do . I liked his cheerful whistle as he stood waiting for a job under the porch of the public building where his slate hung , watching the luxurious carriages roll by , and the well-to-do gentlemen who daily passed him to their comfortable homes , with a steady , patient sort of face , as if wondering at the inequalities of fortune , yet neither melancholy nor morose over the small share of prosperity which had fallen to his lot .
I often planned to give him a job , that I might see him nearer ; but I had few errands , and little Bob , the hall-boy , depended on doing those : so the winter was nearly over before I found out that my Red XXXXX was an old friend .
Cap Lucindy adieus cordials cot day inequalities left lumberman war