Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1849-05-10


ton of cred battle-felds." A 1.-the, active
man is he; and stiff as a ramrod withal.-
His harsh stubby hair is brushed in one par
ticular direction with parade precision and
his high, bald forehead, when in convivial
mood, glistens as brightly as his sharp gray
eyes which one can see with half one,
have been wide open all his life. He rose,
il is understood, though he never mentions
it himseIf-pcrhaps from feeling of mod
esty, a quality, albeit, in which, like most
field heroes, he is somewhat deficient-from
the ranks. From his perfect knowledge of
the Spanish tongue (he passed his youth at
Gibraltar, with occasional trips to the Span
ish coast with his father, who turned an hon
est penny in the smuggling line,) he was
frequently employed during the Peninsular
war by the British commanders in the very
necessary, but extremely ticklish duty of
making himself personally acquainted with
the state of the French camps and fortress
ses--in other words, as a spy; an extreme
ly uncomfortable office for any gentleman
troubled with "nerves" Captain Smith
frequently thanks God he never had any to
his knowledge, in his life no more, he
sometimes says, after reading the debates
no more than membcr of parliament.
Thus much promised, suppose we stop in
for minute, and make his acquaintance.
That is the captain with his back to the
fire. The gentleman who has Just handed
him cigar, and is addressing such martial
queries to the old campaigner, is neigh
boring haberdasher Just before we enter
ed, he inquired, as is his nightly wont, if
,b II h.
lie is always little nervous about the time.
as his spouse is apt to be unpleasantly live
ly for a lady of her colloquial and other
proves, if he is not at home at half-past
ten precisely lie loves peace at home,"
as much as he seems to delight in war u
broad, g." and is consequently extremely pune
tual. But see, Tape is tapping the captain
again The veteran cannot fail to flow
forth presently: at first, perhaps, little
jerkingly-glug, glug, gl"g-but after a
! little coaxing, i'll the ireest, easiest style i'm
aginable.
splendid march, Captain Smith, that
of Wellington upon Cuidad Rodrigo ?"
Sloppy, Mr.. Tape, sloppy nothing but
mud, and snow, and slush. Wnter-tme :
| remember it well" replied Captain Smith.
Beautiful account Napier gives of ii"
rejoined the martial Tape. Wellington, u
he says, Jumped on the devoted fortress
with both his feet p
Does Napier say that p demanded the
veteran, knocking the consumed ashes of
the end of his cigar on the mantlepiece.--
|" Does Napier say that 2"
{" Yes, indeed he does"
"Then Napier tells what is -" repl
ed the matter-of-fact captain. "The lith'
est, longest-leggcd OF the Light Bobs
couldn't have done it, much less the duke
The dukes short in the legs-sits high ii
the saddle, though-long body, dumpy legs
Could no more do it than he could fly
didn't try either. All fam %
Mr.. Tape explained that the jumping wa
metaphorical; and after time, Captain
Smith seemed to have acquired misty no
ton of what was meant. Still, it was, HI
said, a very bad way of writing " history;
which species decomposition should, he EN-
phatically observed, be all facts and no mis-
takes.
The retreat from Burgos was master
ly affair."" persisted warrior Tape mas
terly indeed-uncommonW
81 dare say it was; and as you seem t.
admire it so much, wish you had been on
of the 'prentices under the master, Just +
see how it was done, and how agreeabl
and pleasant such mastery job is to tn
people that do tie work. | was one G
them; and declare to you l had muc
rather have been in this cafe, smoking thi
abomnable cigar, which front smoke"-
and the captain threw the unsatisfactor
weed into the fire; Immediately, however
accepting another from the ready hand c
the obsequious Tape. That, fortunatel,
drew uncommonly well the spiral column
assembled with the fitness and freedom i
which the veteran loved to luxurlate. II
swallowed his demi-taSse at gulp; and hi
sharp gray eyes, twinkling with fresh Luz
tire, said" ii was in coming from Burgc
that got into one of the miserabest scrape
] ever experienced in my life; and all ov
ing to my ender-heartedness, the very wor'
thing for campaign man can carry ;
bout him"
"Tel US, captain What was it, IIo
was it?' cried half-a-dozen voices. Tw
elderly gentlemen, who had been playin
draughts fer the previous four or five hour
finding it impossible, amidst so much clan
or, to bestow the requisite attention on the
extremely intellectual game, also drew net
to listen, as the very best thing, aft,
draughts, they could do.
Captain Smith smiled graciously, seate
Y himself, INDUCED in few predatory Whit
and proceeded. During the many jou
neys at different times made through II
province Of Leon in Spain, fell in with
very worthy couple, whom took great
king TO. Pedro Ddvla was by trade
t, cooper; he made all the casks and tubs {;
S, miles round the little town near which |
At lived; which was situated, as | should te
E. you, good deal out of the direct road,
g rather the nearest road-for there is not
ID ing very direct in that country--from Blu
Cos to Astorga For my part preferrt
d. roundabout ways at that time to strag
IN ones; | found them safer. Pedro had
n nice garden too, beautifully cultivated, al
De the prettiest little back-eyed Andalusii
lie wlie-Pedro was also native of the sou
ir OF Spain-a mans eyes ever lighted upo
n Pedro in his youth had taken service with
r Spanish grapdee, who, being compelled
OF lily his country-a common, everyday THU
m abroad-took up his abode in Paris al
Ii there Pedro got rid of his fine old constit