Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1827-07-19

dying-all endeavoring to make their way in
to Lisbon; for which purpose all the asses ana
mules that they could find were taken with
them, and the poor animals became as lame as
their riders by very few days marches. 1t
was severe measure of Lord Wellington's
thus to devas,ate the country which he lett be-
hind him, but like the burning OF Moscow, 1t
was mastery, for Massena being thus deprived
of the means ofsupplying his army, was soon
obliged to retrace his steps 10 SPAN, pursued
in his turn by the British, ndlearing the roads
covered with his starving people and slaughter
ed horses.
Amidst this desolation frs, saw the little
hero of whom write had been with the
rear guard of8he division, and was approach
ing ALEXANDRA, when observed four or i've
men standingon ridge, in the valley through
which we ware passing. One of them ran to-
wards me, and said there was man lying un-
der tree a little way off the road, beside
stream, and that he was dying A staff surgeon
was close by; l told him the circumstance, and
we Immediately proceeded to the spot. there
we behe,d soldier lying upon his back, MS
head resting against bank, his cap beside
him and filled with water as if he had been
drinking out oft. Beside the man sat a hne
boy, about three years old, his little arms
stretched across him. The child looked visit
fully at us. We asked him what he was doing
there? but from fright and perhaps confusion
at seeing us all intent upon questioning him
he only burst into tears. The surgeon exam
ined the man, and found he was lifeless but still
warm | asked the child if the man was his
father he said he was; but to any further ques-
ton he could only lisp an unntelligiblc am
swcr. The surgeon thought the man had died
offatigue, probably from marching while UNI
der great debility ofsickness. asked the boy
if he had walked with father that day? and he
replied, that he did not, but had been carried
by him.
At this moment the last Of The division was
passing up the hill, and the French columns ap-
peared about half mile behind. There was
nothing 20 be done but TO remove the child, and
leave the dead man as he was. | directed the
soldiers to do so, and to bring him along with
them. They accordingly went over to the boy,
TO take him away from the body; but he cried
out, while tears rolled from his eyes, "No, no!
me stay wi' doddyt-me stay w1' daddy!" and
chung his little arms about the dead soldier with
determined grasp. The men, looked a. each
other, we were all affected in the same way;
could see the tears in The hardy fellows eyes,
They caressed him; they promised thar his IA
thsr should go also; but no, the little affection
ATE creature could moi be persuaded 10 quit his
hold. Force was necessary; the men drew him
away from The body; but The childs cries were
hear,-rending, "Daddy' daday! doddy! dear, dear,
doddyt" Thus he called and cried, while the
men, cndcavourng to soothe him, bore him up
the bin just as the enemy wcre entering the val
ley. This was little Johnny, and the dead man
was his fathers kind, good-hearted comrade,
who perhaps FASTENED his own death in carry
The following extracts are from a Charity
Sermon, entitled Living faith" preached in
Edinburgh, before "lhe Society for The relief Of
the "Dssiituie Sick" by distinguished clergy
man of that city.
sss.rhe enemies Of the gospel have invented |
various excuses for their in6delity. At one time
there is defect Of historical document: at an.
other, they Cannot surrender their reason to in
explicabie mystery. Now, they are stumbled
at a mission sanctioned by miracle: then, the
proofs Of revelation are too absracttd &met.
av,hysical: and presently they discover tina. no
proof whatever can verify q revelation to a third
person. But when they are driven from III
these sub,erfuges; when the Christian apologisti
has demonstrated ,ha, it is not the want of ev-
idence but Of honesty; that it is not an enlight-
encd understanding, but u corrupt heart, which
compels them TO reject the religion Of Jesus,
they turn hardly round and impeach its moral
influenced! They will make it responsible for
all the mischiefs and crimes; for all the sor-
rows, and commissions, AND ruins, which have
scourged the world since its first propagation.
Before such a charge can be substan,ated,
the structure OF the human mind must be alter
cd; the nature Of things reversed; the doctrine
Of principle and motive abandoned for ever. 1t
is only for the forlorn hope of impiety TO en-
gage in an enterprise so mad and desperate
Say, can religion which commands me to lore
my neigh6or as myself generate or foster malis-
nan, and murderous passions? Can a religion
which assures me, that all liars shall haze their
pa,t in the lake ,Uhich burnett Nth fire and 6rim-
stone, encourage spiri, of Discrimination and
fraud? Can a religion which requires me to
possess my vessel IN saneifeaii0n and honour, in
dulgc me in violating the laws of sexual purity?
in breaking up the sanctuary ofmy neighbours
peace? in throwing upon the mercy of scandals
clarion the fair fame Of female virtue? Can a
religion which forbids me to be conformcd to This
,Uorld, cherish that infuriate ambition which