transient and confused amid
the companions by whom he was surrounded.

"You'll make a fine soldier," said the Boardman, as he saw him swagger
across to his seat.

"Yes," said the sergeant, "any man that has got it in him, and is steady,
and doesn't eat too much and drink too much, may get on in the army. It
isn't like it used to be."

"I believe that," said Bob Lazyman.

"The only thing," continued the sergeant, "is, there is really so little
to do--there's not work enough."

"That ud suit me," said Bob.

"Ah! but stop," added the sergeant, "the temptations are great--what with
the girls--."

"Hooray!" exclaimed Dick; "that beats all--I likes them better than
mutton chops."

"Yes," replied the sergeant; "they are all very well in their way; but
you know, if a man wants to rise in the army, he must be steady."

"Steady, boys! stea--dy!" shouted Dick

I don't know how far the sergeant was justified, morally, in thus holding
out the prospect of riotous living to these hungry men, but I think, all
things considered, it was an improvement on the old system of the
pressgang, which forced men into the navy. These lads were not bound to
believe the recruiting sergeant, and were not obliged to enter into a
contract with Her Majesty. At the same time, the alluring prospects were
such that if they had been represented as facts in the commercial
transactions of life, such is the purity of the law that they would have
given rise to much pleading, multifarious points reserved, innumerable
summonses at Chambers, and, at least, one new trial.

"Now," said Jack Outofwork, "I tell yer what it is--I don't take no
Queen's shilling, for why? it ain't the Queen's--it belongs to the
people--I'm for a republic."

'"Well," said the sergeant, "I always like to meet a chap that calls
himself a republican, and I'll tell you why. This country is a republic,
say what you like, and is presided over by our gracious Queen. And I
should like to ask any man in this country--now, just listen, lads, for
this is the real question, whether--"

"Now, order," said Lazyman, "I never 'eerd nothing put better."

"Let's have order, gentlemen," said Harry; "chair! chair!"

"All 'tention, sergeant," said Dick.

"I say," continued the sergeant; "let us suppose we got a republic
to-morrow; well, we should want a head, or as they say, a president."

"That's good," said half-a-dozen voices.

"Well, what then?" said the sergeant; "Who would y