320 SKETCHES IN PROSE. 



said when the Capital was in danger, they'd go; others, that 

 they'd prove their zeal when the State was threatened. But 

 when they saw Washington escape impending danger, these 

 people guessed the State would get along all right without 

 their aid; besides, it wasn't right for just the loyal people to 

 go. Let the Government order a draft, and make all do their 

 duty; then they'd go sure. Many wouldn't hesitate a moment 

 if it were not for their families. Wives who in ante-bellum 

 times were without control in the doings of their husbands, 

 had suddenly became possessed of restraining influences; sons 

 became dutiful, and swains yielded to the solicitations of their 

 sweethearts when requested to keep out of the cruel war. 

 It's no fun to die for one's country, in spite of the Latin maxim, 

 and those who in the sober, second thought hesitated, were 

 excusable. But they knew some must go ; and now that it is 

 all over and the country saved, they should honor and apjDre- 

 ciate those who saved it. 



Among those who enlisted in those troublous times was 

 Robert Kenderdine. His arguments for and against the neces- 

 sity of personal service were drowned in the appeals made by 

 the imperiled Nation. Through bad management, jealousy 

 among officers high in command, or weakness of numbers, our 

 armies were reeling back towards Washington, and it was time 

 for those who had hesitated to enlist to do so now. So one 

 day while he was spending his vacation in a distant State pre- 

 paratory to teaching again in the fall, and when it was thought 

 he had given up the intention of enlisting, a letter came stat- 

 ing that he had joined Collis' Zouaves. In a few days he came 

 home, when his family, finding opposition no longer availing, 

 did what they could to make his departure pleasant. One 

 thing to make them better reconciled was that Captain Elliot, 

 whose company he joined, was a man to inspire confidence, 

 while the company itself was composed of exceptionally good 

 material. Besides, three of his home acquaintances soon joined 



