A TRUE EXPERIENCE.

BY FRANK CAHILL.

I HAD thoroughly made up my mind to enlist. The bounty may have tempted me; my young affections may have been blighted; or, which is the most likely case, a friend of mine, then a Lieutenant-Colonel, commanding a regiment, may have written me to come out, as promotion was speedy and sure.

I knew if I told any of my friends of my determination to enlist, they would endeavor to persuade me from it; so I kept it a profound secret from all at least all save two; and how I came to tell them will be explained in due time.

I had a just appreciation of glory, and knew exactly what it meant, viz., hard fare, much discomfort, and the chances of being shot. So I shivered on the brink of Uncle Sam's servitude, hesitating to take the final plunge.

Visiting one of my friends at his place of business, I told him in the most mysterious manner that I wanted to talk to him on a most important

matter.

"Hold on a few minutes," said he. "I shall be through directly."

your little girl, and tell her to sometimes think of me."

"There'll be no occasion to tell her that. You'll come back safe enough. Write often, and let me know how you are getting along."

"I will do so. Good by ;" and I held out my hand.

"Good by," he responded, shaking it. "I wish I was single, so I could accompany you." "Don't tell anybody where I have gone."

“Of course not, if you wish me not to;" and he was away.

The next morning I proceeded to the recruiting office in the City Hall Park, New York, for the express purpose of enlisting. But somehow or other the bustle and confusion in Mr. Orison Blunt's recruiting office unnerved me, and I thought a little walk would do me good.

My little walk meant a tramp to Central Park and back, and occupied some three or four hours. When I returned it was past three: much to my regret, the office was closed, and I had to wait till the following morning.

This annoyed me exceedingly; when I found it was impossible to be enlisted that day, I was the more anxious to become a wearer of the army blue, and left highly irate at the policy that closed a recruiting station at such an early hour in the I thought those few minutes were the longest day, thus preventing any number of brave deI had ever experienced, so anxious was I to make fenders rushing to the protection of their country. known my intention of enlisting. At last I heard "It is an outrage upon the nation," I said, the sharp click of the clasps of his ledger, which" and I will write to the papers about the mathe placed in the safe, turned the key, put that in his pocket, changed his coat, his hat was already on, and said he was ready.

I mentally determined to defer telling him till later in the evening.

ter."

But I didn't.

Having left my boarding-house a day or two before, that night I slept at Tammany Hall, and had serious thoughts of lying on the floor, inTalking of almost everything but soldiering, stead of on the bed, so as to accustom myself we walked about the streets for hours, occasion-to the hardships of the tented field. After tryally stopping at a wayside inn to refresh.

At last Smith-for that was my friend's name -said: "What do you want to see me about? I must be going; my wife is expecting me."

"O, nothing," I replied; "I just wanted to see you, and have a little talk; that was all."

ing the floor for a few minutes I concluded that the bed was the more comfortable; so into it I turned.

At the time I enlisted, fifteen dollars hand money was given to all who brought a recruit. Laboring under the impression I should prefer a friend receiving the money, rather than a stranger, I hunted one up, and told him I wished

But Smith knew better. He could tell by my face that this was not all; so we continued our perambulations, and occasional halts for refresh-to put fifteen dollars in his pocket.

ments.

Ten o'clock came, and I was no nearer telling him my intention. I was so sure he would dissuade me from it. Smith said he must really go; it was getting so late. He shook me by the hand, at the corner of his block, and left me.

Smith," I cried, calling after him; "one moment. I may not see you again. I'm-I'm going to enlist."

"Are you? was all he said, not at all startled by my announcement. "I should have done the same thing myself long ago, if I were not married."

"My county bounty," I continued, "I will send to you."

"All right; I'll take care of it." "And if anything happens to me - -" here my voice became somewhat emotional—"give it to

"You're just the man I wanted to see," said he; "but how?"

"I am going to enlist."

"You don't tell me! My gracious!" exclaimed Jim, opening his eyes with astonishment. "Let us have a drink."

"What I want you to do, is to take me over to the recruiting office and receive fifteen dollars hand money."

"I can't do that, old fellow."
"Why not?"

"Well, you may get killed," asserted Jim, in. the most matter-of-fact way.

"That's true," I somewhat ruefully agreed.

"If you were to, and I had taken any money for your enlistment, I should never forgive myself. It would be like receiving compensation for your death."