Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1839-10-31
MISCELLANY.
THE SOLDIERS RETURN.
BY JOHN MAcLAY WILSON.

BY JOHN MACLAY WILSON.
, Seven or eight years ago, was TRAVELLING
between Berwick and Selkirk, and, hayinS
started at the Growing of the cock, had left
Meirose at four in the afternoon. On arriving
at Abbotsford, perceived Highland soldier,
apparently fatigued as myself, leaning upon
walking stick, and gazing intently upon
the fairy palace of the magician whose wand
Is since broken, but whose magic still re-
mains. am no particular disciple of Lava
ter's, yet the man carried his soul upon his
face, and,we We're friends at the FIRST glance.
he wore plain Highland bonnet and a coarse
gray coat, buttoned to the throat. His dress
bespoke him to belong only to the ranks; but
there was dignity in his manner, and fire,
aglowing language in his eyes, worthy of
chieftain. His height might exceed five feet
nine, and his age be about thirty. The traces
OF manly beauty were Still upon his checks.
but the sun of western hemisphere had tin,
ged them with 9allow hue, and imprinted
antimely burrows.
Our conversation related chiefly to the clas-
sic scenery around us; and we had pleasantly
journeycd together for two or three miles.
when we arrived at a little sequestered burial
ground by the way-side, near which there was
neither church nor dwelling. Its low wall was
thinly covered with turf, and we sat down up.
on 1t to rest. My companion became silent
and melancholy, and his eyes wandered anx-
lously among the graves.
Here said he, sleeps some of my fathers
family. He picked up a small stone from
the ground and throwing it gently about ten
yards-'that,' added he. is the very spot. But,
thank heaven! no gravestone has been raised
during my absence! 1t is a token shall find
my parents living; and, Continued he, with
SIGH may l also find their love! it is hard,
= sir when the heart of parent is turned against
his own child
lie dropped his head upon his breast for
few moments and was silent, and hastily rails
ing his fore finger to his eyes he seemed to
dash away a solitary tear. Then turning to
me, he continued: s'You may think, sir. this
is weakness in soldier but human hearts
beat beneath red coat. My father, whose
name is Campbell, and who was brought from
Argyishire while young, is wealthy farmer
in this neighborhood. Ten wears ago. / loved
being gentle as the light OF a summer morn
But she was poor and portionless, the daugh-
ter of mean shepherd. Our attachment of
Tended my father. He commanded me to
leave her forever. could not, and he turned
ne from his house. l wandered knew not,
and cared not, whittier. But will notde-
tain you with my history. Inmy utmost need
met sergeant of the forty second, who was
then upon the recruiting service, and in a few
was at Brussels when the invitation to the
wolfand the raven rang at midnight through
the streets. 1t was the herald of day of efo-
~ and OF death. There were three highland
regiments OF us-three joined in one-ioined
IN rivalry, in love and in purpose; and. thank
late! was present when the, till then. in
vinclble legons of cuirassed Gauls rushed
with their warehouses;, neighing destruction
upon the kneeling phalanx of Scottish hearts
shleided only by the plaid and the bare bayo-
net, from the unsheathed sabres of the united
glory OIL France, as they poured like torrents
OF death on the waving plumes of our devoted
band, to extirpate our name from the annals Of
Scottish herosm. Then, then, in the hour of
peril and of death, did the genius of our coun-
Try Durstiorth through the darkness ofdsspair,
like the first flash of the young sun upon the
earth when God said 'Let there be lipht !'-as
the Scottish Greys flying to our aid raised the
electric shout, Scotland foreverv reverberated
as from the hearts we had left behind us; and
Scotland forever" re-echoed .Vctory!' 1t
was moment OF inspiration and of triumph.
Forward dashed our highland heroes, fearless
as their fathers, resistless as our mountain
cataracts! The proud steed and its mailed RI
Ger qualled at the shout. Home and its world
Of unutterable joys-yes, home and the fair
bosom that would welcome its hero-glorv and
the spirit OF our fathers-all rushed upon orr
imagination at the sound. 1t was moment
OF poetry, of patriotism, and of inspiration-of
poetry felt by all, except the wretch
WHO never to himself hath said,
., ms Is my own, my native land
Heavens (added he, starting TO his feet and.
grasPing his staff, as the enthusiasm of the
past rushed back upon his soul,) to have
joined I'M that shout was to live an eternity in
the vibration of pendulum y
In few minutes the animated soul that
gave eloquence to the tongue, drew back into
the chambers of humanity, and resuminr his
scat upon the low wall, he continued
left my old regiment with the prospect of
promotion, and have since served in tie West
indies but have heard nothing ofmy father
nothing of my understanding Of her l
tlovep
While hewas yet speaking, the grave Dig
ger entered the ground. He approached With
in few yards ofwhere we sat. He measure
cd OIL narrow piece of earth-it encircled
the little stone which the soldier had thrown
to mark out the burial place of his family
Commissions ruched over tho ro,+uroe e -.