The Jeffersonian Democrat. [volume] (Chardon, Ohio) 1854-1865, 1861-12-27
Wellington and the Cripple.

ono morning in February, | noticed
threatening crowds ncar tho Pail Mail cato.
not Tar from the statue of Achilles. This
statue was cast from cannons taken in the
Iron Dukes various battles. aud was dedi.
Gated TO Arthur Duke of Wellington. bv
the Women of England" l determined to
watch the Duke, aud soc what was poipg tn
be done Punctual to tho moment no De
scondcd tho stops of Apsley House, his
residence. His appearance was imuosing
He was at the head Of the Cabinet, Premier
OF England, and he was par erceiicEce tho
first mao in England.
1t was drizzling morning. He wore q
blue trock coat buttonGd up to tho chin. a
military stock, and brown pantaloons. His
falcon eve surveyed tho excited groups
about tho Park gato with sort of pleasant
contempt The mob were either awed nv
lis appearance ard prestige, or thew had
not got screwed their courage TO the insult
ing point The Duke passed on horseback.
attended by b q faithful valet. Nobo,ly
molested him till he reached his office
1horo the mob hissod him; but when he
turned around and faced them. tho hissino
ceased. He then quietly entered his Office,
AS know the hour he would leave Downing
street TO return to the Park. | was there ia
due season, The neghburhood of the
Horse Guards probably deferred good
macy OF the excited fanatics from gathering
about the office, but numbers wero pathprod
The Duke, who was punctuality itself. came
out at the appointed moment, aud mounted
his horse amid groaus and hisses. After
he passed the Horse Guards, tho noise in
creased to shouts. Wien ho passed tAc
oharing Gross, aud entered Pail Mall, the
mob began to throw missiles and dirt Near
Pall Mall gate, there was whirlpool of
human beings, oddying around in strange
Wild, and yet in sort of systematic con.
fusion. feared they would murder him
there' AS he approached the gate, a good
deal spattered with mud and dirt, the mob.
asHt compelled BY some higher power tha n
that OF oarth, made lane for him to pass
For a moment they seemed awed and ap-
poared to relent. But when be bad entered
the gate, thoir violence rose 10 fury, He
dismounted with difficulty, placed his back
against the rails of tho statue of Achilles
and calmly faced his furious assailants. |
shall nevor forget that moment. Thoughts
aud feelings took mastery of nv nature
then, that nave swayed mo ever since. Not
one word did be utter. There was no
shrinklug-not even with cloud of appre.
henson upon that glorious face. Oh! how
lnil liely small and contemplate his assaiI-
ants looked ! How great is man How
little are men.
There was lull in the storm of shouts
and missiles, and dirt, and an old Irishman.
with a wooden leg, hustled bis way to the
side of the Duke. This man sold apples
and oranges by the Hyde Park gate. and
his basket had been upset bv the mob.
When he had reached the Iron Duke, he
stood by bis side, and unbound his wooden
leg. and made speech that Immediately
subdued the monster. He began:
my cnrse on you for cowardly scoun-
drels. lfye have pluck. come and fight
me- Let II bo two of US against you ALL
Come and kill US both. This is your fair
play Ttis is English Justice Thousands
against one Think of Waterloo But
for him and OF, Boney would have beaten
ye! I've got my wooden leg for fighting
for ye-ye Williams! And We arc goln' TO
pay him by murtherin' him, ye bloody
scoundrels Come on, but come one at d
time, not like towards and ruliians as ye
are, altogether T.
This speech was a mighty success. Tho
mob was ashamed and Gained, aud began
to sneak away. Wellington gave smile OF
recognition to the man who had saved his
lie, and ever afterward he amply provided
for him, as he did for many others, out OF
his own private fortune, in his own quiet.
noiseioss wav.--.MoOre