The Child of Waterloo, or, The Horrors of the Battle-Field — page 100: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

THE CHILD OF WATERLOO, 97 ‘Coch, murder! I'll be kilt entirely; and poor Miss Mabel, the ugly thief of a mendicant bas stolen ber away. Oh, by Jasus, but I'm a pretty defender and protector, sure enough; and how did I then come to let myself be circumvented in this manner? Sure, the French never came over me in this manner; sure ote the battle had gone wrong, anyhow, if that had been the case.” Rafferty Brolickbones struggled against difficu.ties of more than one character; the fact was, he had not entirely got clear of the trunk of the tree, and it was only with great difficulty that he got his head free from the mass, and kept it above the water. ‘*Och, murder!” he exclaimed. more than once, ‘‘ and am I caught in this manner, to be drowned like a rat in a trap? Was it for this, faith, [came here to take care of Miss Mabel? It was a mistake altogether; I'll never be caught in the like trap again. Where’s Miss Mabel ?—oh, the ugly thief that upset the tree and me in it!—sure he’s no manners. 1 wonder where they have got to?” By dint of much thrusting he at length got free from the a and after many vain attempts, succeeded in reaching the shore. ‘*Murder! murder!” he exclaimed; ‘‘the black devil has oer off Mabel, after all. Oh, murder—murder! what'll I do now | LS CHAPTER XIX. TROUBLED Tom, always in difficulties, always disturbed, and invariably troubled to the last degree, slowly wended his way toward the village churchyard, there to seek the repose that so many were laid there to enjoy without any trouble. He entered the churchyard, and began to look about for a convenient and out-of-the-way place, where he could lie without any disturbance whatever; and just as he got what he thought was a nice place, he thought he heard a groan. Tom listened, but not hearing it repeated, he said, ‘‘Oh, ’tis just the way with them! I dare say I shall be dis- turbed, no doubt of it. Well, here goes; I'll lie down by this tomb. The old lady was dumb, and she, therefore, made no noise; and the infant under the other is said to slumber sweetly, Let me see if in such company I can sleep awhile without any more disturbance. Once in a night is enough to be disturbed; but that’s less than my share, Oh, dear, what a place of trouble this world is surely—it’s a trouble to come in, a trouble to go out, and a trouble, a long trouble, to stay in. Well, for my part, I can’t see the use of being born, if it’s only to be troubled in this manner; but they know most about it, and it’s too much trouble to think any more. I shall lie down once more, and sleep if I can.” Troubled Tom had scarce laid down before he heard the same hollow groan which be heard before, and which was this time much louder than before. | ‘*[ thought as much,’ thought Tom. ‘‘ No peace even in the comicbooks. com