This novella was written by A. Oakey Hall, who once served as New York City's mayor, and illustrated by his daughter, Clara. The story centers on the character of The Captain, a Revolutionary War veteran in pursuit of a small pension. Although in the end his pension bill passes Congress, at the start of the book it is opposed by the Congressman Lysander Lillington. Drama ensues when it is revealed that The Captain’s granddaughter and the Congressman’s nephew are in love. Ten wood engravings illustrate the story’s major events.