tempests rise can hurl whole navies into
wreck. Suddenly catching a glimpse of a figure at a distance which
reminded me of my friend, I eagerly addressed one of the soldiers, and
pointing out the object of my curiosity, inquired who he was.

"That's our sergeant," replied the man.

"Oh!" I ejaculated in my disappointment, feeling assured that a week
would not have raised Penn--to that honor, and I sat down on the green
bank and watched the steamboats as they passed up and down between me
and the city. And as I gazed, many a sad reflection and strange
conjecture passed and re-passed along the silent current of my mind.
How alone I felt! Even the groups of soldiers standing about were but
as so many stacks of muskets. My eyes wandered listlessly from object
to object, and rested at last on a pair of boots at my side, such as
had been moving about me for the last half hour, and they, that is my
eyes, not the boots, naturally, but slowly, followed up the military
stripe on the side of the pantaloons, then took a squirrel leap to the
Uncle Sam buttons on the breast of the coat, and passed leisurely from
one to another upward, until they lit at last full in the owner's
face! That quizzical look--that Roman nose! There was no mistaking
Penn--, Sergeant Penn--, of the United States Army! My surprise may
easily be imagined. However, a few minutes explained all.

Alas! for poor humanity,
Its weakness and its vanity,
Its sorrow and insanity,
Alas!

My friend in an evil hour had been led astray--had imbibed one
"cobbler" too many for his leather; and like most men in similar
circumstances, grew profoundly patriotic, and in a glorious burst of
enthusiasm, enlisted! His fine figure, with a dash of the theatrical
air, promoted him at once to the dignity of sergeant; and never did
soldier wear his honors "thrust upon him" with a better grace than did
Poor Penn--. Whether in his sober moments he regretted the rash act, I
do not know; he was too proud to acknowledge it if he did. Taking me
by the arm, he conducted the way to the barracks, and with an air of
indescribable importance, exhibited and explained the whole internal
arrangements. On the first floor, which was paved with brick, there
was an immense fire-place, built in the very centre of the great room,
and steaming and bubbling over the fire hung a big kettle, capable of
holding at least thirty gallons. Over it, or rather beside it, stood
the soldi