oh uncle here s a regiment of soldiers coming down the street with the band playing in front of them a eh where be my glasses lor but i can hear the band as plain as plain here s the an the drum major what be their number his eyes were shining and his bony yellow fingers like the claws of some fierce old bird dug into her shoulder they don t seem to have no number uncle they ve something wrote on their shoulders i think it be ah yes he growled i heard as they d dropped the numbers and given them names there they go by they re young mostly but they t forgot how to march they have the swing � aye tu say that for them they ve got the swing he gazed round the red lamp after them until the last had the comer and the measured tramp of their marching had died away in the distance he had just regained his chair when the door opened and a gentleman stepped in ah mr i better to day he asked come in doctor yes i m better but there s a deal o in my chest it s all them if i could but cut the i d be right can t you give me something to cut the the a grave faced young man put his fingers to the blue wrist you must be careful he said you must take no liberties the thin tide of life seemed to thrill rather than to throb under his finger the old man chuckled i ve got brother s girl to look after me now she ll see i don t break or do what i hadn t ought to why dam my skin i knew something was amiss with what why with them soldiers you saw them pass eh they d forgot their stocks k ot one on em had his stock on he and chuckled for a long time over his discovery it wouldn t ha done for the he muttered no by the would ha had a word there a op the doctor smiled well you are doing very well said he i ll look in once a week or so and see how you are as followed him to the door he beckoned her outside he is very weak he whispered if you find him failing you must send for me what him doctor ninety years him his are pipes of lime his heart is and the man is worn out stood watching the brisk figure of the young doctor and pondering over these new which had come upon her when she turned a tall brown faced with the three gold of upon his arm was standing in hand at her elbow good morning miss said he raising one thick finger to his yellow cap i b there s an old gentleman lives here of the name of who was engaged in the battle o it s my sir said casting down her eyes before the keen critical gaze of the young soldier he is in the front parlour could i have a word with him miss i ll call again if it don t chance to be convenient i am sure that he would be very glad to see you sir he s in here if step in uncle here s la gentleman who wants to speak with you round the red lamp proud to see you sir � proud and glad sir cried the taking three steps forward into the room and his while he raised his hand palm forwards in a salute stood by the door with her mouth and eyes open wondering if her had ever in his prime looked like this magnificent creature and whether he in his turn would ever come to resemble her the old man up at his visitor and shook his head slowly sit ye down aid he pointing with his stick to a chair you re full young for the it s easier to get three now than one in my day were old soldiers then and the grey hairs came quicker than the three i am eight years service sir cried the is my name � of h battery southern division i have called as the of my mates at the s to say that we are proud to have you in the town sir old chuckled and rubbed his bony hands that were what the said he cried the is proud of ye says he and i am proud of the says i and a damned good answer too says he and he and lord hill bu st out a the non mess would be proud a of and honoured to see you sir said and if you could step as far you ll always find a pipe o and a glass o a you the old man laughed until he like to see me would they the dogs said he well well when the warm weather comes again ril maybe drop in too grand for a eh got your mess just the same as the what s the world a to at all i you was in the line sir was you not i asked the respectfully the line cried the old man with shrill scorn never wore a in my life i am a i am served in the third the same they call now the guards but they have all marched away � every man of them � from old colonel down to the boys and here am i a � that s what i am a i m here when i ought to be there but it ain t my fault neither for i m ready to fall in when the word comes we ve all got to muster there answered the won t you try my sir handing over a old drew a blackened clay 