Alexandria gazette & advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1822-1824, 1824-06-19


met with such . tale Of domes,is dis
tress - 10 told below. Who can fead
| il with stoical indifference?
/ THE PARTING.
From ssRecellections Of Eventful life." p.
| Soldier. IA recent British publication.j
| We had been about three month. :,
the Island Of jersey, when tho ordsr
came for DOR embarkstion for Portuo,l.
but only elk womsnto every bundr.d
mon were allowed to accompany US
| A. there were. however, . grsat m,nv
moro than that number, it was ordered
that they should draw lots, to Soc who
should remain. The women Of RI.
company to which ] belonged, wsr. ,..
sembled in the pay ssrgeants room fo.
that purpose. The men Of the comm.
ny had gathered around .hem to se.
tho result, with various degrees OF in.
terest depictedin their coun.snan cs,.-
The propor,ionats number Of tickets
wore made, with 'to go or not 70 90,
written on them. They we're .hsn,
placed IN bat. aud the women were
called by their seniority 10 draw their
tickets. | looked around me before
they began 1t was sn Interesting
scene. The sergeant stood in the mid.
die with the hs, IN his hand, the women
around hin with their hearts pslpi.a.
ting, ard anxiety and Suspense 10 every
countensnee Hese and here you WOOL
sss tho head Of . married msn pushed
forward from amongst tho crowd in
the attitude Of intense snxiety and at.
| teDtion.
The first woman called was the ser.
gesni's wiie--she drew not to GO It
seemed to give little concern to any one
bu' herself and Der husband. The next
Vas . corporsls wifs-shs drew TO TO-,
This vas received by al With nearly %
much sps,by ~ the first. She was liz.
| tie bsioyed either.
The next was an old hand, = most
outrageous virago, who though, MOTH
ing Of giving her husband 4 knock down
| when he offended her. and who used to
make great disturbance about the fire
10 the cooking away. Every one utter.
ed their wishes audibly that she would
lose. aud her husband, If we could Judge
from this coontenance seemed to wish
so too. She boldly plunged her hand in
to the bat and drew oei ticket; on o.
pening it, she held it up trium phantly,
and displayed to CO. sold Meg will
60 yet, said she, end live to scald
more of you about the fire side.' A
general murmur of disappointment ran
through the whole. She has the de.
viI'. lock and her own, said one of
them.
The next in turn was the wife Of L
young man who was much respected by
the company for It's steadipess and good
behaviour. She was remarkable for
her affection for her husband: and be.
loved by the whole company for her
modes, and obisgiDg disposition. She
advanced with . palpi'a.ing hear, and
trembling hand to decide on (whst was
to her beIieve) future happiness or
misery. Every one prayed for her sue
cess Trembling between fear and
hope, she drew cut one Of the tickets,
and attsmp cd to open it: bu, her hand
shook 80, she could not do it. She hand.
cd it to one Of the men to open it,
Whom no opened it bic ooun,enance fell,
and he hesitsted TO Say what it was. She
cried out in tone Of agony, Tell me.
for God's sake. what il is!-.Not to
"a aid ha an ssnuns..;oo.,. lana 81
voice. oh God. help mel O sapdyp
she exclaimed, and sunk lifsless in the
srns Of her husband, who had sprapg
forward to her assistance, and in whose
face was nov depicted every variety of
wretchedness. The drawing was in.
terrupted, and she was carried by her
husband to his birth, where no hung o.
ver her in frantic sgooy. By The a..
distance Of those around her she VS.
soon recovered from her swson but
she awoke only to sense Of her mise.
~. The first thing che did vas TO look
round for her husband; when she per.
csivsd him, sbe sisxsd his hand and
held it, as If she was afraid that he was
going TO leave her. o Sandy, you'll
not leave me and your poor babis, will
youP' The poor fellow looked in her
face with look Of agony and despair.
The scene drew tears from every
eye in the room, with the exception Of
the termigant whom l have already
mentioned, who said 'Wh.. are 20 q
making such wsrk about?' Let the ba-
bic get her greet out! suppose she
thinks there's aaebody ever parted
with the men bot her, VII her faintip'.
and her airs, and her warkr
The drawing was again commenced,