Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1853-03-02

very short commons. There was no reason
to expect much in the village we were now
ordered to. The French, who had just mar
ched out, would of course, have helped Them
selves to whatever was portable, and must
have previously pretty well drained theplacc
We made search however, Judging that,
/ possibly something might have been bonceal-
ed from them BY the peasants ant we ac-
/ tually soon discovered several houses where
skins of wine had been seereted. A soldier,
sir, take it, after hot service or fatigue, sell
dom thinks of much beyond the comfort Of
drinking TO excess and freely own that
our snail party soon caused q sad scene Of
confusion
Every house and howell was searched, and
many poor fellow who had contrivcd to
hide his last skin Of wine from his enemies,
was obliged to abandon it TO his allies --You
might see the poor natives on all sides run
ming away--somc with morscl of food, 9TH
ers with skin Of wine in their arms. and
followed BY the mcnaces and staggering steps
of the weary and half drnnken soldiers.
s7faoi Tino = was the cry in every part
of the village. An English soldier, sir, may
be for months together in foreign land, and
have a pride in not knowing how to ask for
anything but liquor. ! was no better than
the rest.
spiao 7 guiero rino Z said Itoa poor half
starved and ragged native, who was stealing
of, and hiding something under his torn cloak;
'aiaof. you beggarly scoundrel give me ii
mo- said |.
limo no teagof' lie cried, as he broke
'sons a.g gasp, and ran quickly and fearful
ly away.
was not very drunk had not had
above half my quantity-and | pursued him
up street. But he was the fieetcr and
should have lost him, had not made sud-
den turn ad como right upon him in deser-
ted alley, where supposed the poor thing
dwelt. seized him by the collar. He was
small and spare, he trembled under my grippe;
but still he held his own, and only wrapped
his cloak the closer round his property.
sFiRo! quiero riao I said 'give Inc Vi
nor
'Noda, NADIA tengo'' he repeated
| hsd already drawn my bayonet. am
ashamed, sir, to say, that we used to do that
to terriIy the poor wretches, and make them
the sooner give us their liquor. As held
him by the cellar with one hand, pointed the
hayonct at his breast with the other. and !
again cried .TinoF
Pine no tengo--nino. nino es and he
spoke the words with such look Of truth
and earnestness that. had not fancied |
could trace through the folds Of his cloak the |
shape Of small wine skin should have be-
lieycd him.
Lying rascal : said ], SO ye won't give
me the liquor? Then the dry earth shall
drink 1t and stuck the point Of my bayo t
net deep into that which be was still hug
ging to his breast
Oh, sir. it was moi wine that trickled dowr
lit was blood. warm blood ,--anl piteous
vail went Ike chill across my heart. The
poor Spaniard opened his cloak--he pointed
to his wounded child--and his wild eye asked
palmer than words can tell, Monster, are you
satisfied
was sobcfcd in moment. | fell upon my
knees beside the infant. aud tried to stanch /
the blood Yes. the poor fellow understood
the froth--he saw aud he accepted my an
gush--aua VIC joined in our efforts to save
the little victim Oh. it was too late
The little boy had fastened his small. clam
my hands round a finger of each Of US He
looked at us alternately; and seemed to ask
alike from his father and his murderer. that
help which it was beyond the power OF one
on earth to give. The changes in the poor
chisd's countenancc showed that it had few
minutes to live Sometimes il lay so still I
thought the last pang was over when
slight convulsion would agitate It's frame
aud momentary pressure Of its little hands
would give the gasping father a. short. vain
ray Of hope
You may believe. sir. that an old soldier,
who has only been able to keep his own life
al the expense of an eve and two Of his limbs
who has fingered out many weary day 10
a camp hospital after hot engagement
must have lexnt to look on death Without
any unnecessary concern. have sometimes
wished for it myself; and often have felt
thankful whom my poor wounded comrades