The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1855-03-03
THE SEVEN POOR TRAVELLERS
From he ,rtru Christmas No. of N,us,AoW Words.
CONDUCTED BY CHARLES DICKENS.
TIT. FIRST STORY.

In the year one thousand seven hundred
and nincty-ninc, relative of mine came
limpng down, on foot to this town of Chat
ham. | call it this town, because if ANYBODY
present knows to Il nicely where Rochester
ends and Chatham begins, it is more than
DO. lie was a poor traveller, with not far
thing in his pocket. lie sat by the fire in this
very room, and he slept one night in bed
that will be occupied tonight hy some one
here.
My relative cane down to C'.,,h,r 70 on-
'lSt IN ca. airy rec;":..cnt. if \ cavalry rcci-
-'th' won't have him: if not, to take King
"corgcs shilling from any corporal or ser
geart, who would put bunch of ribbons in
his hat. His object was to get shot: but he
thought he might as well ride to death as be
at the trouble OF walking.
My relatives Christian name was Richard.
but he was better Known as Dick. !Ic ,!rop
ped his own surname on the road down. and
took up that OF Doub!cdck. He was passed
as Richard Doublcdick AGE, twcn.vtwo =
hc!ght, five foot ten native place. Exnlouth !:
winch he had never been near in his life
here was no cavalry in Chatham. when he
limped over the bridge here, with half shoe
to his dusty foot. 50 he enlisted iato a rcoi
m"nt OF the line and was clad TO Get drunk
and forget all about.
lou are 10 know that this relative of mine
had gone wrong and run wild His heart
was in the right place. hu. it was sealed w.
He had been bctrothcd 10 a GOOD and hrar.i
tul cir! whom he ha! loved better ,..a., size
or perhaps even he believed: ls. il. A.. evil
hour. he had gwen her cause to say 10 ha..
>o'cnn.. '(;i hard. viii never marry ary
other man. will 1--we sin"lc for vorr :ah...
hu' Mary Mar<ha'i's lips" her nam WIS
Navy Marshall ~nc,cr address anohcv
word to vou on earth Go Richard Heaven
forgive You This finished linn. This
brought HIM down 10 Chatham. This made
him Private Richard poub!cdicl;, with a de-
termination TO be Shot.
There was not 4 more dls>ipatcd and rcc!,
less solder in Chotham bar:acA in the v,,~
on" thousand Sgven hundred ..4ii ninc,v-ninc.
Grated "Fh The drc.> Of every regiment. h.
was as seldom sober as he could i., and va,
constantly un,!cr pun!shment.Ii became clear
to ,hc whole i,arrack>. that Private Eirh,rI
Noublcliyk would very soon bc iorre,!
Now, the Captain of Hichar! Doubcdich'>
company. was voun. gentleman not above
five wears his senior. whose ewes had an cx-
PRECISION in them which affected Private Rich
ard Douhlcdick in a very remarkable way
TEcy We're bright, handsome, dark cycS-
they arc called laughing ewes. generally, and
when serious rather steady tl:an >cyerc-bu,
they were the only eyes now left IN his mar
rowcd world that Private Richard D3u;,c-
dick could not stand l'naha<hc,, hv evil re-
port and punishment. defiant of everything
else and everybody else. he hal but to know
that those ewes looked at him momr Mt. and
he felt ashamed. He could not 50 much az
salute Captain Taunton in the street like any
other officer. He was rcproachcd and con-
troubled by the mere possibility of
the Captains looking at him In his wor>.
moments he would rather turn back and 90
any distance out of the way. than encounter
those two handsome. dark. bright eyes
One day, when Private Richard Double
dick came ont of the Black Hole, where he
had been passing the last eight and forty hour
and in which retreat he spent a rood deal of
his time he was ordered to bctake himself tn
Captain Taunton's quarters. In the stale and
Squald state of a man Just ort of the Black
Hole, he had less fancy than ever for bcinc
seen by the Captain but he was not so mad
yet as to diSobcy orders, and consequently
went up to the terrace overlooking the pa
radc ground, where the officers quarters
were; twisting and breaking as he went alone
bit of straw that had formed the decorative
furniture of tie Black Hole
Come in ~ cried the Captain, when he
knocked with his knuchlcs at the door. Pri
vatc Richard DouIleLick pulled off his cap
took stride forward, and iclt very consclou.
that he stood in the light of the dark, brigh,
eyes.
There was a silent pause. Private Rich
ard Doubledick had but the straw in hi.
mouth, and was gradually doubling it up in
to his windpipc aud choking himself
"Doubledck," said the Captain, "Do YOU
know where YOU are going to -
TO the Devil, sir taltcrcd Doubledick.
"Ycs," returned the Captain. "ind very
fast
Private Richard Doubledick turned the
straw of the Black Hole in his mouth, and
made miserable salute Of acquiesence
"Doublcdck." said the Captain, 'Sincc
entered His Majesty's service, boy Of sew
enteen, | have been panied to see many men
of promise going that road; but, have new
ed teen so PANIED to see a man determined to
make that shameful Journey, as | have been
ever since YOU joined the regiment, to see
YOU
Private Richard DoubIedck began to fine!
film stating over the floor at which he look
elk: also to find the legs of the Captains Ia
bic turning crooked, as if he saw them thro'
water.