Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1845-08-15
AN INCIDENT AT WATERLOO.
ny REV. T. A. nEApLEY.

Of that great battle. The fields were wav-
ing with ripening grain, just as they we're
on that memorable morning, before trodden
down by the charging squadrons. As |
stood where Wellington stood, on the ridge,
occupied by the English lines, and survey
ed the entire field, and looked down on the
narrow valley where the fate Of Europe was
once put up and battlod for, world of con-
fleeing emotions struggled for mastery with
in me. The magniicence and pomp ofthat
stera army were before me, and my ears
seemed distinctly to catch the first cannon
shot that opened the conflict. Far on the
right comes down on Hougoument, Jerome
Bonaparte with his twelve thousand men.-
A sheet Of fire runs along the walls of the
chateau, and a gap opens in the advancing
columns Of the foe. Its mangled head melts
like frost-work before the destructive fire.
The smoke of battle covers them from sight,
and rolls up the valley, and 10, see nothing
but the melee of horses and riders, the toss
ing of banners, and the soaring of the French
eagle amid the cloud of war, and | hear
nought but the roar Of artillery, the braying
Of trumpets, the blast of the bugle sounding
the charge, and the heavy shock of cavalry.
Amid the confusion and terror Of scene
like this, which the imagination will call up
on such battlefield, how naturally does
the mind rest on some single character, or
incident, and gather around it all the inter-
est o. the fight 1t may not be so with 9TH
ers, but find it true Of myself in all circum-
stantes. | remember, when standing on
the op of the colonnade of ST. Peters, and
looking down at the tens of thousands that
were waiting the blessings Of the pope, |
forgot all in poor pilgrim beggar and his
boy that reclned on the ample steps. Their
distant home among the Italian hills, their
weary aspect as they slumbered there in the
sunlight, and their sudden starting up as the
blast of solitary trumpet announced the
approach ofhs holiness, formed the ground
work of a scene more touching than the one
before me. So it was here. In the church
of the hamlet of Waterloo, lying on the edge
of this field, are a multitude Of tablets, plac-
ed above officers who fell in this battle
Among them is one recording the death oil
a mere boy, who formed one Of Wellington
suite. The epitaph closes with, he was
eighteen years of age. and this was his
twentieth battle l gazed on it with feel.
inSs of the profoundest melancholy So
young and yet so tried. Trained amid the
smoke and thunder OF battle, accustomed al.
most from infancy to scenes of carnage and
cruelty, what moral effect it must have
had upon his character. An angel could
not abide such discipline. walked over
the field with an English officer of rank
and cleaned from him the following incident.
of his life, which have filled up
Young Gordon (my memory may be
wrong here respecting the name, it having
become illegible in my notebook was the
second son of distinguished English fami
y. He had obtained place in Yelling
toms suite, though a mere boy, and beer
with him through all the Peninsular cam
paign. lie was fitted by nature for a sol
der Enthusiastic, bold, and strangely am
bilious, the excitement of battle and the oc
casions it gave for Distinguishing himse
were his delight. Around his frank anc
open countenance clustered ringlets of chest
nut hair, while his blue Saxon eye spoke a
once the generosity and fire of his arden
nature He had one only sister, the yer,
reverse of him in every thing but her strong
and generous feelings. Frail as the flower
that is born and nurtured in single night
her very face reminded one Of an early grave
1t was of that delcacy and almost spiritual
transparency, which make you shrink a,
you think of the first shock of life. You
look around in vain for some shelter for sucf
flower. Her eye was large g. the very sou
of tenderness. telling without disguise, anc
painfully distinct, that affection was her life
Next in birth TO the young soldier, all hel
exiravagant feeling and yearning affection
had centered in him. His bold and otter
reckless conduct had caused her many
pang as they played together in childhood
while his generous love, as he would come
and fling his arms around her neck and kiss
away her tears, had bound her to him will
cords of iron. She loved him with that ut
ter abandonment Of heart, a being constitu
ted as she was, always loves; and he return
ed it with all the strength of his brave young
heart. She was all faith and timidity; ht
all hope and courage. Thus had they pass
ed their childhood together, and when they
came to part, her heart sunk like smitter
blossom TO the blow. As he glanced ove
his rich uniform, and sword flashing by hi,
side, a deeper flush of Joy maniled hi
cheek, and prouder feeling beamed in his
eye, while all over her spiritual features
came the hue of mortal fear and unutterablC
dread Her head sunk on her bosom, ant
the big tear-drops fell unrestrained and fas
at her feet At first he attempted TO laugl
away her fears, but seeing that this raillery
Jared painfully upon her heart, he, too, burs
into tears, and folded her to his bosom will
all the holiness and strength of brother
love.
They parted, and her sweet but rare laugl
was still less frequently heard. will no
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