Kirkland, Joseph. The Captain of Company K . Chicago: Dibble Publishing Co., 1891. [format: book], [genre: fiction]. Permission: Northern Illinois University
Persistent link to this document: http://lincoln.lib.niu.edu/file.php?file=companyk.html

some low-lying spring snow-clouds were silvered on their under side by the reflection of the city lights.

"Yes, it is bracing. I hope it will brace up the boys to enlist."

"How goes on the good work?" she asked.

"Oh, it seems as if the first regiments that went off had taken all the available men. Now we're trying to raise this one in our own line of trade. To-day I got almost a hundred firms to sign a paper promising to continue the wages of any of their employés sufficiently to make army pay as good as their present pay."

"You are certainly doing your full duty."

"I do my level best. But what do you think! To-day Uncle Thorburn asked me why I didn't go myself!"

Both laughed at this suggestion. William Fargeon, merchant, philanthropist, Sunday-school superintendent, temperance orator -- with hands white, linen spotless, and well-brushed hair growing thin in front -- a soldier!

"What did you answer?"

"Oh, I told him my forefathers were non-resistant New Testament Christians, and I had been so long taught to turn the other cheek I didn't believe I could fight a flock of new-hatched wiggle-tail snipe."

"Of course you can do more good to your country than that would amount to! This meeting at the Wigwam to-night is of your getting up, isn't it?"

"Your father's and mine; but your father's speech will be the great card. Won't it, Mr. Penrose?"

He said the last words looking over his shoulder, but the quick-pulsed younger folks had outwalked the minister and his wife, and the latter were out of hearing.

"Never mind," said Sara, "we all have places on the platform. But who could imagine you a soldier!"