many other things.

Note 2. A picket is a body of men told off for these and other duties.
A camp is guarded by them. An out-lying picket is placed at some
distance from it to give notice of the approach of an enemy.

Note 3. Non-commissioned officers are chosen from among the men for
their superior knowledge and steadiness. They are so called because
they are appointed by the colonel, and have not received commissions
from the Queen. Many, however, for their bravery and high conduct, have
received commissions, and have risen to be captains, and even to higher
rank. Those thus promoted frequently become adjutants of their
regiments.

STORY FOUR, CHAPTER 2.

Men enlist for many reasons, the greater number because they are out of
work, and do not know how else they are to live. These are the most
contented, because they do not expect much, and find themselves, if they
are steady, pretty comfortable, well fed, and well clothed. The worst
off are lazy fellows, who join, expecting to have an easy, idle life,
with little to do. Besides drilling and learning the use of his weapons
and the various movements to be performed to get him into a soldier-like
shape, with parades and inspections, and field-days, and reviews, and
sham fights, and marching out in the winter, and sentinel, fatigue, and
picket duties,--he has his appointments and arms to keep in order, and
in his turn, his mess things, room, and other places to clean. And
often he has heavy work; roads to make, fortifications of various sorts
to throw up, and other similar tasks required by an army in the field;
still, after all, there is no work harder than most of the men would
have had to go through if they had remained at home.

About the end of February, the regiment was ordered to proceed to
Ireland. A special train took us to the large town of Liverpool, from
which ships sail to all parts of the world. Getting out of the train,
we formed, and marched down to the quay by the river Mersey, where a
large steamer was waiting for us. We went on board, and she soon began
to paddle down the river on her way to Dublin. It was the first time I
had ever been at sea with water around on every side, as far as the eye
could reach. We soon however caught sight of the Irish coast, and very
pretty I thought the bay of Dublin as we steamed into it. I now began
to find out one of the advantages of a soldier's life; that is, visiting
new places. I did not t