The Soldier's Wife — page 34: what you’re looking at

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

ecnclusion of a brilliant picture which he had }vice, THE SOLDIER'S WIFE. 23 A nicer set of officers you couldn’t hope been drawing of life in the barracks, “I do not}to meet—quiet, gentlemanly, say-nothing-to-no- know how it is with you, but I am vetting hun-| body kind of fellows gry. Ihave not breakfasted yet. At home in my quarters I generally manage a eold chicken or a pound of ham, besides muins or hot rolls ; but I am afraid we shall not find these things here. However, I know there is some cold beef in the landlord’s larder: and we will have it tn with pickles and mustard—-condiments we call them in the barracks. Stay a minute: I will pee about it myself.” Sergeant Langley accordingly issued from the parlor, and se ught the landlord in the bar. “ Now, Mr. Bushell,” he said, “ you will please to send in whatever aeld meat you have got in the Warder Give me a pint of brandy and 4 couple of quart pots. ‘This was done; and the sergeant proceeded to divide the brandy between the two pewter pots, the landlerd looking ou with mueh interest and curiosity. “Now,” said Mr Langley, “fill up these two pots ith the strongest old ale you have got In tap——mind, the strongest! Why the deuce do you hesitate Q” “Well, Langley,’ said Bushell, touched ith certain Mie cai inetious feelings, “ I shouldn't ike it to be said that ] had any hand in entrap- ing those two poor devils——” “Mr. Bushell,” interrupted the sergeant, drawing iniself: up with awful gravity, and speaking i in a stern tone of rebuke: “ you would almost make me think that you are a traitor to our king, And mind, Mr. Bushell, I dowt want to threaten—but there is such a thing as a law of treason; and we officers engayed in the re- crulting districts, do Lappen to be vested with very preat powers.” “TJ am sure, sir,” said Bushell, looking terribly a blunk and dismayed, “1 wasnt aware thai—— ] mean that-—-that that I beg par- don ‘i “Well, my friend, 1 accept your apology,” returned the» sergeant, with a halfmajestic, half-patrenizing wave of the haud, which a tragic actor might havé copied wi th consider able benefit to Dinselt “ Aud now fill up the ots.” This was done ; and the sergeant, by way of preoaution, SO as to prevent the substitution of a less potent liquor when his back was turned. conveyed with his own hands the two pots of brandied ale into the parlor. Thither he was speedily fullowed by the landlord, bearing a tray of cold meat, a jolly quartern loaf, butter, pickles, and so forth. “Now, my frieuds- my very dear friends, as | am proud and pleased to call you,” said the sergeant, “ we will regale ourselves. Of course you like the undercut of the sirloin? The sol- diers in our regiment are such dainty dogs they will never eat any other part. But (hen: you see, the colonel <poils them : too many luxuries—he does Roast beef and plum-pudding are the standing dishes ; and then, what with soup, and fish, and | “poultry, and Bae their appetites are quite popes Ah! its a blessing indeed to get to our regimert—it’s the crack one of the ser- ——————— en a eT TE TT Cn ee aE cC- But don’t Ue for me —peg away, my i ee ui there’s a pot of ale In front of each of you. It’s quite mild, thia ale is: I told Bushell to draw it so, Now, my friends, drink away—and here’s the King’s health, God bless him !” The two rustics mado tremendous inroads upen the viands; and as a large amount of €a% ing acquires a proportionate Guantity of drink- ing, they applied the quart pots so often to thei lips and took such deep draughts, that the brandied ale produced all the effects which Mr. Langley both anticipated and desired. The men became excitedly and not stupidly tipsy; ane having thus modelled them into the precise humor which suited his purposes, the recruiting: sergeant proceeded to strike the final blow, “Worthy friends,” he said, putting on the blandest of all blaud smiles and the most cajoling af all coaxing airs, “I should think you don’t feel much In a humor now to go to work in the fields. Well then, what say you? Come, are you for the happy life of a soldier? Plenty of money—plenty of good fare—plenty of fine elothes—and best jf all, yeur King’s approval, What. a life of happines ss and glory | Now then, my friends, don’t be without money. Such fine fellows as you are, ought always to have silver in your pockets. Aye, and gold too, for that matter! The bounty | have to ofier, my friends, is three pounds tu every one w ~ enlist with me!—three pounds, my friends, ee so id, sterling cash !—three pounds! I ont the current com of the blessed realm! Now, ‘ak | friends, | should think that each of you wot like tohave three pounds—eh? Three pounds— what a sum! Its a rezular little fortune! Come—shall I be your banker ?’--and as the serjeant thus spoke, he drew forth a handful of money which he tossed upon the table with the air-of one accustomed to lavish it profusely, The two rustics looked at the money, and then at each other; and then their mebriated vaze was reverted to the shining cols again, “ Brave fellows that you are!” said the ser- geant; “you accept my properdy) [ see you do. The service is honored by having yon—and you are honored by entering the service. Three pounds bounty-money, my fiends? But you had better not take it ad, at once: you'd only be losing it—or spending it too quick, Come— what say you to leaying a portion in my hands ? Ali, to be sure! I Knew you would—your looks are eloquence itself. There! take ten shillings a-plece—ten good sterling shillings for each— and Ti hold the balanee of two pound ten for cach all you want u1) Take up your cash, my lads: aud mark, in the King’s name | give it tc ‘oul The two poor fellows, scarcely knowing what they did—but dazzled, bewildered, and, con- he lets them have} fused—took up the ten shillings presented to s, pon my honor! each and put it into their pockets “ Now,” ejaculated Mr. Langley, “ give me ‘our hands, You are in the Kong's service: and if a splendid career isn’t open befure on both, then [’'m very much mistaken. | Having procured writing-materials, the sen Conmicloco ks (E@)