The Argosy — page 224: what you’re looking at

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

A Word for Our Militia. 209 * And who is Dick ?” “ Dick’s a little lad that lives near us, and he’s always running into our house when I’m at home,” said the young soldier with a smile. Simple words that told their own tale; told that the tall young fellow had in some way won the little lad’s love. ‘How pleased Dick would be to see you in your red coat,” I said. “Suppose we send hima picture-card or a book for himself?” So a monthly part of the ‘‘ Chatterbox ” went directed to Dick Hodges, /zsior, for fear the said Dick’s father, also called Dick, should think it was for Aim. Several letters I wrote that mother: “‘and please tell her I’m going on all right,” was in every one. Mothers’ hearts are all the same, and one felt the pleasure those few words would give. He brought me the mother’s answers to read, and they ended with, ‘Thank the lady very much for herkindness from your loving mother.” ‘“‘ Mother’s a tidy scholar,” he said, ‘‘ but I never cared for school when I was a little one.” One evening, when the regular comers had got over any awkward- ness they might have felt with me at first, a new man arrived, anxious to write to his wife; he could not write himself, and he was shy with me: he wanted Corporal C. to write for him, but Corporal C. was busy writing for a young fellow. Some very interesting document it was evidently. I had to direct the envelope, but it was the corporal brought it to me, not the young fellow himself, and it was to a Miss Mary Watson ! The new arrival was in a hurry, and I was pleased to hear the other men telling him, ‘Go to the szssuzs, she'll write it for you”—“ I tell you the szzssus will write it the minute you ask her,” &c.; so at last he made his way to my end of the table and told me what to say. He wanted to send his wife some money, which the sergeant would advance him, so, with the letter all ready, and card inside, he went off to the sergeant, thanking me and wishing me good-night. We ladies had discussed among ourselves whether these men would like one of us among them, or whether they would prefer having the room to themselves ; so the second or third day, when there were seven or eight men present, I stopped as I was going away, and told them our doubts. Having Miss Robinson’s experience in my mind, I said, 7 thought they would like to be looked after when they were away from their homes, adding, ‘I have sons of my own, serving the Queen far away from me, and I am thankful for any kindness shown ¢hem, so, if I can help any of you, I am quite ready and willing.” They all said, “ We like you to come very much, m’m, and are very much obliged to you.” My constant conversation between the letter writing was on drinking. “Do take your pay home with you,” I said ; “ don’l send it to the devil before you leave the town.” | The little book, ‘‘ Buy Your Own Cherries,” was a great favourite—a twopenny book, with a large bunch of red cherries outside ; and “ Does VOL. XVIII. — P connicloooks CO mM