I tole that there Briggs man so, and lef' the drill hall and come home, 'cause it was scrub day." "Three days in the guardhouse," thundered the Colonel, in a voice terrible to Kettle.
Sergeant Briggs, touching his cap, walked out, Kettle following him.
At the door stood Mrs.McGillicuddy holding in her arms the After-Clap, in all his morning freshness, his little white fur cap and coat showing off his eyes and hair, so dark, like his mother's.

The After-Clap gave a spring which he meant to land him in Kettle's arms, but Kettle, bursting into tears, would not take him.
"I k'yarn' take you now, honey," cried Kettle, wiping his eyes, "I'm a goin' to the guardhouse, my lamb, for three days and maybe I never see you no mo'." The baby seemed to think this might be true, and set up a series of loud shrieks.
"Do you mean to say as you've tried to enlist ?" cried Mrs.
McGillicuddy, struggling with the baby and her astonishment and indignation all at once.

"The idea of you being a soldier! It beats the band, it does!" Sergeant Briggs, without giving Kettle time to explain further, marched him off, and Mrs.McGillicuddy went to report to Mrs.Fortescue, while Sergeant McGillicuddy appeared to report to Colonel Fortescue.
"I believe, sir," said the Sergeant confidentially, "as it's a crooked business about the naygur's wantin' to enlist.

Gully and Sergeant Halligan was jokin', but it's mighty risky jokin' with the regulations." So thought Sergeant Halligan and Sergeant Gully, when confronted with the Colonel.

As they were two of the best sergeants in the regiment, the Colonel satisfied himself with a stern reprimand, which was not entered against them.