Democratic banner., 1845-02-15
TIE SOLDIERS TEAR.
BY :. &. HALL.

Is - - ihLh
1t is now many wears SINCE the
FIST battalion ui the 18th regiment OF
loot. under orders 10 embark for In
dIa,-that" far distant land. where so
many If cur brave countrvmen have
fallen victims 10 tie climate. and
where so few have slelt in what SOL
dreis call the bed ui cioIy.-wcrc
assembled in the har:ack-vard ~
Chatham. 10 lie inspected previously
to their passage on board the trans
port whicA lay moor, d in The Dawn.
! 1t WAS SCARCELY d"v break when
the II erry rum and G!e were over
all parts OF tie Town, aGd the soldiers
were seen sailying forth from their
quarters. 10 JOIN the ranks viii their
bright tirelccks on their shoulders:
and tie kn,p sacks and c1nteeus las,
tened Ia their hackS ny bets as White
as NOW. Each soidIcr was accom
panied by some friend Or acIuaint-
ance. or bv some individual Wi,h 4
dearer ;i''e to lis r. gard ,han eilhei Z;
/ and there MIS- a star Ee AID srmo-
times a uhin seal m;rcl'rl # weep
ing and lauahing "",org the essen
ii gjuCls.
TIE sscrni ta.ti'on vaS IL re-
nam IN I,nga.d: 500! 'hc nieajet
peat. ci tIe DIVISION were present
~ bid iatcuel il I" tier ua! cHmTar-
Inns in arms. Bat among the nus
bands al q wives. uncertainty. rs to
thei: desliny. prevailed; Tor the lots
were vet 10 be drawn-lhe lots that
were 10 d. cidc which uf the wrmcn
should accompany the regiment. and
which should icnIia behind. Ten
al each cone anv scr la Gr taken.
and chance was ~ he the only MI.
ter. Without noticing what passed
elsewhere, ! confined way atlcEttcn
to that company which was ON
mahdcd by my hierd Captain Lcder.
Il brave and excellent officer. who !
am sure, ias no more than myself for
gotten the scene 10 which | refer.
The poor women hnd gathered
round the ilag-sergeant. who held tho
lots in is cnp-tcn Of them marked
TO g0'-and ull the others contain
ing Tie fatal words To rcmain.' Il
MS ii moment ui dreadful suspense:
and u, yer have ! seer The extreme of
anxiety So powerfully depicted in
the ruunlenances oi human beings rs
10 Il t features oi each of tho soldiers
wives wh" e. inpused ti,at group
One advanced, and drew her ticket;
ii was agninsl her. and she i~cireatrd
sobbinC. Another; she succeeded,
and giving Il loud tuzz,, an oil 10
tie distant ranks Ia embrace Ter bus
land. A third came forward with a
hesiiatIng ster; tears were alreHdly
gushing each other down her cheeks,
and there Was mr. unnatural paIeness
on her Interesting and youthful coun-
tenance. She put her small hand in
10 the sergeant s cap, and saw by
the rise and tall of her bosom, even
more than her looks revealed. She
unro'ied the paper, looked upon it,,
and, wi;h Il deep grCan fell back and
tainted. SO intense WAS the anxiety
OF every person present, that she re-
manned unn0ticed until all the tickets
had been drawn, and the greater
number Of the ON had left the
spot. then looked round and he-
held her supported by her husband,
who was hneeling upon the ground,
upon her lace. and driving her
falling tears with his Coarse
handkerchief, and now and then pres.
sing it to his avn manly cheek.
Captain Loders advanced towards
Them. i avn sorry, Henry Jenkins
said he, that fate has been agains,
you, but bear up, and be stoui-heart-
ID
4 am so, captain said the soldier,
he looked Up, and passed his rough
hand scross lbs iace;'hut It's hard
hing 10 part with a wife, and
he so soon to be 4 mplhor.'
Oh, captain scbhed The young
woman, 'as you are both 4 husband
nd a father, do not take him from
nc! lave no friend in the wide {
but one. and you will let him /;
bide With me! Oh. take ME with
I'm! take me with Bim--for The love 5
God. take me witt, him. captain,-- {
he fell OF her knees, ard laid hold {