The Soldier's Wife — page 65: what you’re looking at

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minated them, have made terrible mischief with their friends about me in the village; and there’s a dead set against me. The tradesmen had a sort of mecting last night at Bushell’s and passed a lot of resolutions, of which I hap- pen to have got a copy. Here they be, sir:”— and Mi. bates pulled out from his waistcoat- ppl a grimy rumpled piece of paper, which e tendered to the baronet. “Read them, my good fellow,” observed Sir Archibald, majestically waving him off: for the paper was too dirty for his aristocratic fingers to touch—and moreover the barber’s breath combined the odors of onions and rum. “{ will, Sir Archibald:” and then in a sing- song voice, Mr. Bates proceeded to read the following inportant document :— “Minutes of a meeting of the tradesmen of the village of Oakleigh, held at the Royal Oak, on Tuesday evening, 38rd of August, 1828, Mr. Sif kin in the Chair. “Moved by Mr. Beagley, seconded by Mr. Mummery, and carried unanimously—That whereas Obadiah Bates has aided and abetted a recruiting-sergeant in enticing away some rene men from the said village, this meeting as no longer any confidence in Obadiah Bates as a hairdresser and shaver. “Moved by Mr. Clegg, seconded by Mr. Po- eock, and carried by only one dissentient— That steps be taken to negotiate with some other hairdresser and shaver to come and es- tablish himself in Oakleigh for the benefit of the inhabitants generally and the peace of our Sovereign Lord the King. | “Moved by Mr. Tripes, seconded by Mr. Sheepwash, and carried unanimously—That Messrs. Clegg, Mummery, Brogden, and Jud- kins, do form themselves into a committee to earry out the above resolution, and that the members of this meeting do subscribe sixpence a-piece to defray the expense of postages, We., in carrying on the above important negotia- tion.” “There, Sir Archibald!” ejaculated Bates, when he had read the document, “if that isn’t rank treason, sedition, and rebellion, I don’t know what is. Asecret hole-and-corner meet- ing—and to lug in the name of our Sovereign Lord the King i “T don’t know about it being treason or re- bellion,” observed the Baronet, who could not help laughing ; “ but it’s very clear that there 1s a dead set, as you call it, against yourself; and I certainly shall take your part.” The little barber’s countenance brightened up to a degree of animation that rendered it a suitable match for the oily glossiness of his hair and whiskers; and he bowed so low that no Mussulman’s salaam was ever more pro- found. “Well, but about this post-office business— what do you want me to do, eh?” “{ have drawn up, sir, a little petition to the Postmaster-General,” repled Bates, “ set- ting forth my manifold claims to the vacant situation—that my grandfather, my father, and myself were all born and bre 1in the village but he‘e’s the docuinent, sit :’—anud now from THE SOLDIER'S WIFE one of his coat-pockets he produced the meme rial, carefully wrapped uf in a piece of uews paper, and which by its cleanliness formed @ remarkable contrast with the dirty seray» com taining the resolutions. “You can leave it,” said the Baronet; “ana [ will undertake to send it to the Postmaster- General with a strang recommendation from myself, Bates, you shall have the post-office; it’s already as good as in your possession.” — “Tam sure, Sir Archibald, I shall never be able to repay your goodness, It’s a matter of five pound a-year; and then, you see, the peo ple must come to the shop where the post-office is—and so they will think twice about spiting me,” “ Well, I have given you my word, and you shall have the post-office.” Thus speaking, Sir Archibald Redburn rose from his seat to intimate that the barber might retire. The hint was accordingly taken by Mr, Bates, and he departed, immensely delighted at the result of the interview. On the following morning Gerald bade fare well to his mother and Aunt Jane,—receiving from the former many earnest entreaties about writing to her every week to say how he got on, and many injunctions against dissipation and late hours; while trom the latter he was favored with the recommendation “to be a good child, and not dream yet awhile of aping the airs of a man: because,” added Aunt Jane, “there’s many a little drummer-boy wears a red-coat but isn’t a man for all that.” The same evening the Baronet and his son arrived in London; and on the following morn- ing Sir Archibald, true to his promise to Mr. Bates, despatched the memorial with a note to the Postmaster-General. In the course of a few days Sir Archibald received a very cour- teous reply, ,to the effect that his recommenda- tion had been attended to, and that the letter- box at Oakleigh had been duly entrusted to the charge of Mr. Obadiah Bates, perfumer and nairdresser of that village. Meanwhile Gerald’s outfit was progressing, Messrs. Bicknell and Moore, the fashionable army-clothiers at the corner of Bond Street, were put into requisition for the uniforms and all necessary appurtenances: a couple of beau- tiful horses were purchased for the young gen- tleman’s use—and the sum of five hundred pounds was paid through Sir Archibald’s Lon- don banker, to a banker at Portsmouth, alse for Gerald’s express behoof and in his name. A very proud day was it for Gerald Redburn when he tirst tried on his uniform; and the baronet was so delighted at his son’s appear- ance, that he much regretted he had not brought Lady Redburn up to London that she might see him in it. “But no matter,” he said, by way of consola- tion; “you will get leave of absence in & few months, and then you can come home. Your mother will be quite in eestacies at your ap- pearance; and | really do not think that oven Aunt Jane could find anything bitter to say in respect to you. We are going to Lady Cate maran’s party this evening, and you shall wear 'your unitor,” * ~“ Gomicbooks moe 6 ’ . “ pte" ‘ . ,