Martinsburg gazette and public advertiser. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1826-1833, 1829-06-11

NO, oir, quo.b he,
'Call me not fool - Shakespeare.
There is scarcely a village any
where in the wide world, but has in il
some half-witted being, whom the very
children feel prviedged to mock How
often DO we see such crazy unfortu-
nate, followed by little tribe of urchin
tyrants tormenting and torturng i'll
some by the knickname and the cruel
laugh-some by the mouth awry or
the broad grlmace-others by the sly
pull at the ragged skirt-and few by
the coward stone:-and the loud shout
of triumph the little mob will giye,when
they succeed in making the poor crea
ture turn and stand at bay or run after
them in fierce, but, happily for them,
in impotent anger. Such sight is not
uncommon, and, to man of thought
and feeling, is very humiliating aud af.
fecting.
--''the little dogs and all,
Tsry, 'Biancb, and Sweetheart, see, they bark az
me
cries Lear in his mad misery. SIS there
any curse in NATURE that makes these
hard beartsn All me: fear there is.
Kit Wallace, ! call thee up from thy
grave. Let one paint thy portrait: re-
cord thy wrongs: and relate thy death
1t may be, some poor, feeble minded
being shall be treated the better tor
this sketch Of thy inofensye life. Some
stick shall be raised in defence of mo
bed miserable--some word of kindness
be spoken into an ear accustomed only
to reviling and reproach.
VI RENE mber, 10 the ardent and ioy-
GUS days of my early military life w he n
my laughter was like the cracking of
thorns under pot'-a poor hal.- witte d
man, who had enlisted into the reei
ment; | know not when or how
HE was certainly, poor fellow, TO
use the favorite phrase OF the drill-ser-
geant, one ofhis .Nojesty's lard bargains
Tie was not crazy he was not an ldi.
ct that there was no way OF gettib Q
him discharged-for, at that period, in.
specting generals were very strict about
discharges; but he was simpleton of
the silliest The intelligence of child
was greater. TWAS well for bin, per.
haps, that he bad been driven to eulist
by i'll treatment at home; or inyeigled
by some adroit recruiting sergeant, who
wanted to poke: the bringing money ;
for in a regiment he was sure to be
clothed, fed. taken care of and govern
ed Poor Kit! to make soldier of him
was impossible. However, be had eyes,
arms, and legs; aud as he would not
use these last to desert. TO get rid of
him was impracticabls He had a SLOUGH
and he was sloven. He never stood
in the proper position OF soldier; nor
did he ever put on his clothes and ap-
pointments like one. Officers and drill
sergeants gave him up in despair. He
sunk in sort of privilege character,
one who was
"unaptto learn, and formed of stubborn suff. y
"Kit was in the company of which
was the Lieutenant; for awhile nv pu
pill, but soon, and for years. nv tor.
ment and my plague; and oftentimes-
write it with blush -oftentimes my
jest. Upon inspection and review days,
bid him as well as could; put him on
a rear guard, or in an awkward squad
of lately joined recruits; employed him
for the day as cook, or on fatigue duty,
or as line or barraek orderly; some
| out of the way post or corner was
found. in which TO conceal Kit: but if,
owing to unteward circumstances, such
an arrangement could not be effected,
would get him we'll cleaned, aud his
appointments well put on, by one OF the
smsrtest of my corporals;-- then
place him in the rear rank, and a clever
sergeant behind, with his eye constant.
ly on him. to prevent him from discred
ting the company by his plumbers
ut may be supposed, that such a
subject soon became the butt of his
comrades; they never wanted a Joke
when he vas by; they tormented him
ince ssantly They played him tricks
at which sometimes be himself gave
the laugh of Stiffness, while at Others
he would blubber like babylon
these last occasions, / would rebuk,
him, and punish the men:-butI often