Year: 1872

Seageant Snow ball was in his thirty


seventh year. and yet bachelor. His


single condition was not, however, owing


to any conceived or hereditary aversion


to wedlock, Or dread of the appalling re-


sponsibilities matrimony entails in these


modern days. No, no. Sergeant Snow


ball, of the county c - fusillers, was


from his beardless boyhood over anxious


to be ranked amongst the matrimonial


majority; put, ns h~ "as accustomed to


say to himself, he found it almost wholly


impossible to find lady amongst his
gentle acquaintances fitted to discharge
the delicate matrimonial duties OF "a non,
commissioned officers BRIDE


Rumor had it that Sefgeat SNOWFALL
had secretly offered his hand to five diff
ierent damsels in diverse parts of the
county, and that the loving tender was i'll
each case politely, but firmly declined
This of course the gallant Sergeant indig
nantly characterized az a malicious SLAM
der, or to use his own phrase. zone Of the
base stratagens of the enemy" The
negative affirmation colsmoa amongst
public school children in New York
would admirably suit the Serseants de-
fsnce ou that score: "he did'xt do no such
thing We shall not probe the matter
deeply at all events. All of Us mortals
have our own peculiar feelings. and little
surprise need be evinced at the non dis
coyery of every perfection in the pom
pous person of color -; not colored) -
Sergeant SNOWFALL


There was bat one woman in the whole
world whom Snow ball detested with his
whole heart. lie looked upon the Nid-
ow Ca.rax as his evil genius. All his
matrimonial mishaps he secretly attribu
ted to her agency If he met her of
morning after leaving his quarters, he
would instantly retrace his steps and re-
main in the melancholy mess-room dur
ing the day. Notwithstanding his hatred
of AIRS Casrax. she actually adored the
Sergeant, and she only tormented him be-
cause he would not pop the question"
Snow sall would as soon have turned his
tunic inside out upon dress parade as
proposed for The glib-tongued relict of
Corpo,al Catrax. AT the mention of her
name he was reported to have changed
color, and so even his jovial companions
seldom or never alluded in his presence
to the widow.


1t was nearing Christmas time, when a
few of the Sergeant's military friends
bethought them of getting up choice
SNOWFALL at first depre-
Gated the idea, but after little soothing
persuasion lie consented to be party to
its preparation and management. Each
military gent was expected of course to
bring his wife or famcee to the gathering,
and as Snow ball professed to be favor
tie among the fair sex, he saw at once the
absolute necessity of accompanying and
being accompanied by some charming
little damsel, fair and fat if you will. but
far away under forty. "These upstairs
of lance corporais and insignificant swag
gering privateS must be made to feel that
Sergeant SNOWFALL is no small potato
that he has standing in society as well
as in the canteen of the barrack yard
that he holds the keys of the ladies, here
as well those Of the regimental mess
room, and that, in fine, he is the worthy
wearer of the sash and stripes of non
officer" Thus he reasoned
with himself one moonlight nigh: before
The turning into hammock. and the reve-
rie was only broken by the sudden re-
solve of addressing letter to Miss Dora
Delaney asking her to accompany him
10 the military hop" on Christmas night.


After two hours effort he succeeded
in turning off "a duck Of an epistle to
Miss Dora D.. who by the way had
greater hold upon the sergeant's heart
.ban most people knew, or even be cared