On Picket Duty and Other Tales (1884) is a collection of short stories by Louisa May Alcott that are mostly didactic and moral in tone. On Picket Duty deals with a group of soldiers on guard duty who discuss their courtships and marriages. The Death of John is a real story of a morally hurt soldier's last night. The King of Clubs and The Queen of Hearts, and The Cross On The Old Church Tower, are also included in this collection.