Page:American Boy's Life of William McKinley.djvu/89

Rh to him. The private ran over. In his hand McKinley held a large round cake, out of which he had just cut one fair-sized slice.

"Just got this from home," he said. "You boys can divide it up between you. There are the other things I got." And he pointed to them, lying on his cot,—some new underwear and half a dozen pairs of heavy socks, made by his mother and sisters.

"Thank you, lieutenant," said the private, and hurried back to the crowd with the cake. "Told you he wouldn't go back on us," he said to his fellow-soldiers. "He's got some homemade socks in there, and I'll bet if any of us needs 'em, he'll divide up on those, too."

Early in February, 1864, there was a vacancy among the first lieutenants of the command, and some speculation was indulged in concerning who would obtain the coveted commission. But the speculation did not last long, for the honor went to McKinley, much to the satisfaction of his many friends.

"He deserves it," said an old veteran of