hen think how many strange places I should see
during my time of service. Going on shore, we formed, and marched to a
railway-station, when the train carried us westward to Cork. Here the
regiment was stationed. Some of the companies, and mine among them,
remained at head-quarters, and others were sent out on detachment duty
at various places. Soldiers on detachment often meet with adventures of
various sorts, especially in Ireland. They are stationed at different
small towns and villages, where the inhabitants, especially the fair
sex, are apt to make a great deal of them, from not being so accustomed
to see red coats as are those in large places. I must hurry over the
events at this period, that I may have space to give accounts of those
of more stirring times.

I had made up my mind on joining, to be a steady man, and I was glad to
remain at head-quarters, because I knew that there my conduct would be
observed by my superior officers. There were temptations enough to act
differently, but I knew that a few glasses of whiskey or any
irregularity would in a minute cloud all my prospects. I had, it must
be understood, no advantages above the rest of my comrades. I was but
myself a country lad, about the youngest in the regiment, but I had
heard an officer remark that there was the making of a good soldier in
me; and so I gave my mind and heart to the work, and that made me like
it.

I have said nothing about Marshall. He was in a different company from
mine, and had been on detachment. After some time his company returned
to head-quarters. He seemed much changed, and from being a brisk,
lively lad, was sad and silent. We were always friends, though he did
not take to soldiering as heartily as I did. I asked him what was the
matter. He told me at last. He had lost his heart to a farmer's
daughter. She was very pretty and young and good. He had met her
coming home on a car, with her aunt and a female cousin with three men
from a "wake." That is the name given in Ireland, to a burying party.
The men, as is generally the case after such meetings, were very drunk.
The car broke down. The other women were hurt, and the men could not
help them. Marshall arrived at the moment, mended the car, left the
drunken men to find their way home as best they could, put the old lady
upon it and walked home at its side with Kathleen O'Neil, who had no
fancy for again mounting. Kathleen was very grateful, and so was he