me
before, offered me a riding-mastership, a situation equal to an
ensigncy. I was elated with the idea; it was the situation which, of all
others, I should have fancied. I dressed myself in my best, and off I
marched with the colonel's kind invitation in my hand, not having the
shadow of a doubt of the full and joyous concurrence of my commanding
officer, who, I thought, would gladly embrace the opportunity of giving
me a proof of the friendship he had so often professed for me. I
presented the letter, and begged his consent and aid in the fulfilment
of my wishes. He read it, paused, knitted his dark eyebrows, and it was
so evident that he was displeased, that I began to muster my offences,
but I could think of nothing in which I had offended him. Imagine my
surprise and mortification when he returned the little document into my
hand, accompanied with this sweet and consoling declaration, "I shall
not recommend you for any such thing." He was just about to leave the
room, when I presumed to remonstrate on the cruelty of such a denial, in
preventing me from getting such a respectable situation; and I pushed
the matter home by asking him if he thought me unworthy of it, or if I
had displeased him in anything. He said, "No; but," continued he, "don't
you think I like good men in my regiment as well as Colonel K----?
Besides," he said, "what am I to do for a sergeant-major if you leave
the regiment, or perhaps for an adjutant, if anything should happen to
either of them?" Two of these persons were younger than myself, and in
full and blooming health. I felt my pride wounded and my feelings hurt,
and I could not help expressing my sentiments to that effect, and we
parted at enmity. This was a death-blow to my present hopes. I made the
best excuse I could to the colonel who had made me the kind offer, and I
was in a short time made drill-corporal in my own regiment, and
afterwards drill-sergeant. This was a situation I was fond of, and a
preparatory step to that of regimental sergeant-major. For a time this
new toy pleased me, for I would, at any time, sooner command than be
commanded; but the duties of a drill-sergeant are very laborious.

I went on tolerably well with the troubles and vexations of this arduous
office, when, one fine morning, it was rumoured through the lines that
the sergeant-major was defunct in hospital. I was congratulated from all
quarters as his successor, as a matter of course, and the eye of the
who