The Child of Waterloo, or, The Horrors of the Battle-Field — page 24: what you’re looking at

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

THE CHILD OF WATERLOO. 21 recent injury he had received from a fiint casually trodden upon. Round his head he wore a colored handkerchief, and above that again was a Slouching hat of the most ragged and wretched description. His eyes were small and ferret-looking. The forehead had that shelving shape which betokens in its possessor cunning without wisdom; and about the mouth there was some unfortunate curve which could not well be defined, but which gave an uncommonly Villainous expression to the whole face. The first impulse of Mabel was to fly from the spot, when he now began to move toward her; but she checked herself in that and paused, as his attitude was respectful, and he took off the slouched hat he wore. Then, in whining accents, which ie have. been the result of long practice in mendicity, he said,— ‘‘Sweet young lady, take some pity on a poor man—an old soldier, one who has fought the battles of his country, and kept the domestic hearths free from the invader. Have compassion, dear young lady, on an old soldier.” Mabel was almost too terrified to speak, for he kept coming still nearer to hereach moment. However, she mustered courage to address bim in answer to his mock submissive evens ‘* Tf you go around,” she said, ‘‘to the front of the farm, you will be relieved. No one is turned away from that door unre- lieved, who is considered worthy.” “The front of the house, miss ?” ‘‘ Yes. Go there.” “ Lord bless me! if you knew how far I have traveled, and how long ago it is since I’ve tasted food, you would not ask me to go so far.” ‘*Tt is a mile to the nearest place,” said Mabel, ‘‘ at which you could purchase food. were I to give you money. It is not a fourth part of that distance to the front entrance of the farm. Besides, you are trespassing here; and, however charitable Mr. Morton may be. I know he does not approve of intrusions on to those parts of his grounds which are set apart for the exclusive use of the family.” ‘* Morton—Morton!” ‘* Yes, Mr, Morton.” ‘‘Then, what place is this, miss!” ‘““Moncton Friars, it is named.” The man advanced another step, and ‘in a voice which be- trayed some agitation, he said— . *¢ Girl—I—I beg your pardon, miss—was Mr. Morton ever in the army ?” ‘He was,” said Mabel, surprised at first at the question, al- though a moment's consideration told her she need not be, as that was a fact known to the whole country side. ‘‘ He was, but is not now.” ‘‘ He—he was, but is not now,” repeated the man, as if the words possessed to him more.than common interest, Mabel was going away, but he called out to her: comicbooks. com