The Military Sketch-Book. Vol. I

“Amongst soldiers—men whose habits of life are almost in direct opposition to social and domestic enjoyment—who are strangers every where and whose profession is to destroy their fellow-men it is astonishing what tenderness and amiability of disposition are frequently to be met with. If a comrade dies and leaves a widow; or if an object of distress presents itself to a regiment—such as a poor traveller unable to proceed from illness or want a subscription is immediately set on foot and although a few pence from each be the extent of the alms yet with men whose pay is so limited it bears the credit of a considerable gift: but it is not the amount of the subscription I have looked to most; it is the generous promptitude with which the measure is adopted. Nor are such the greatest marks of tenderness in the soldier: oftentimes has it occurred that an orphan has been left in a regiment and the child has either been supported and domiciled with the company to which its father belonged or a single soldier has undertaken the care of it.”. Excerpt From: William Maginn. “The Military Sketch-Book. Vol. I (of 2) / Reminiscences of seventeen years in the service abroad and at home.” Apple Books.