Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1872-01-06
THE BREAKING OF A SHELL.


NJ story opens with a death which happened
many years ago.
Picture to yourself a deep chasm in the earth,
crowned by a rough, disorderly ramp, from
Viii h peer out ends of brush-wOod, stumps,
broken basket-work, Uttered over by rusted,
jagged iron fragments, and that, crouched in a
sheltered corner, seated on plank supported on
two stones, Is group OF men,. vast concus-
sion every now and then shakes the air; the
scream OF shot, the hoarse puff of shell, vi
kr3te overhead.
The group il merry enough. Chaff and laugh
TER abound. There are Major Brown and Cap
tain Dove and two or three subalterns, among
whom is Ensign Delmere, aud the teller of this
tale, who Is the assistant-suTgeOn of the I03d
Bsfs, OF which regiment a working party is now
On duty in the trenches.
We are at breakfast, and we are breakfasting
IN nnwOnted luxury; for We have secured a con-
signment of eggs, and each man holds one in his
hand, and IS chipping the outside shell, prolong-
ing the preliminaries as much possible to en-
hance the enjoy ment of the delicious morsel
within. We are breakfastiDg in comfort too;
fer the guns quiet this morning, and there
are no signs OF that Internal cannonade which
often precedes a sOTtie from the opposing works.
pelnere's servant, lad of wonderfully quick
oversight, is at watch in an embrasure close at
hand, and at the fash of each gun he calls out
W as the description Of missile that is being
hurled against US.
ant iteration For shots We don't care button
and eat our breakfast in peace.
"SHELL." screams the lad; and away we
seattle like so many rabbits, each to his pet
corner among the gabions.
"Bang!" goes the shell, right in the middle OF
Ne, and the fragments whiZ and scream about
ss though seeking out our hiding places
We take our seats at the festive board once
more: Delmere triumphantly raises his hand in
the air.
(which of You, my boys, can show that? I
challenge yOa!'
There was a general laugh. The raw young
ensign had the best of Us seasoned warriors
tyery other man had thrown away his egg to
the scramble.
The lad at watch in the embrasure looked
round too and grinned, enjoying the joke and
his masters triumph.
"Shot!' he cried, as a lurid fash darted across
eur faces.
my COP! SHE'LL" he screamed, second
Too late. We threw ourselves down on our
faces as binding sheet Of flame sprang out in
the very midst of Us. Then it was over. We
jumped to our feet again.
"AH right"
"Yes, all right; narrow shave. Come, Del
mere, old fellow, jump up!'
lie lay in an easy position on the ground his
face half turned toward us, and in one hand he
still held his egg, the hand little appraised.
There was smile on his face but in a moment
the smile was blurred out by spasm of intense
pain
ran 10 him. He had been struck BY two
fragments of she'll in each thigh. He saw my
grave face az i finished my examination, and
pulled his cap over his eyes.
sTaSped him by the hand
Harry, he said" should have liked to live
20 mueh!'
There never was such fuss in a regiment as
when il was known that little Delmere had been
badly hit. He was our pet, that bOy. From the
erummeT-lad 10 the sast-iron old colonel, there
wasn't soul in the regiment that wouldnt
have died for him. He such a delicate
dainty little chap, fresh from school and home
radiant in his garments, full of fun and frOlic,
and yet regular lion at heart.
We reallv hoped to see him once. We had a
long consultation about him, we doctors, and
agreed that possibly, by amputating both his
legs at the hip-jOint, he might be sayed-that IL
there was no other chance. We deceived the
poor boy. though. We told him if we ami u,c-
ted one leg, we might the other. There
never was a lad so absurdly glad 10 have his leg
ten. Idon't mind telling You that went into
my tent and cried before began that opera
tion; and I'm not given to the melting mood
either And then, in my heart, cursed all the
great powers of civilization, all the leaders of
They had taken away my boy, whom 1 loved
more than a brother; and / cursed them, and
vowed would never serve them more.
Soon after the operation he sank. He was SEN
Sible 10 the last, and had Us all in to say good
by. 1t was ON the 9Th September, remember,
and the sun was getting low. There had been
deadened To il, and all of a sudden the firing
ceased. and we heard ringing cheers in the
camp. He had been whispering fast and earn
est words in my ear, but had now sunk back
oveIpOwered by the coming ehills of death.
What's the row." cried Delmere, sitting up,
pale and wan, resting on one elbow.
SebastOpOl is taken" cried some one run
ming past the hospital tent.
THANK GOd,' cried little Delmere drawing
himself up, stiff and proud; thank God, Now
III die like soldier"
He sank back and died.
Before he died he had made me his confident
IN a certain matter which Is the groundwork OF
this story. He gave me bundle OF letters a
miniature, tiny scented glove, a ribbon he
had worn round his neck. ! had mission in
Sr qS1ed 70 me WHICH sol Len vowed TO- per
father, and a few keepsakes 20 other friends.
So soon as had buried my friend obtained
leave, ION urgent private affairs" and went
home and when Unt hOma fhra q N -
mission.
II-Ix SURREY.
II was a hot day in October, and was toiling
up a sand-hill in Surrey, oppressed with heat
and thirst; but soon reached the top and locked
down upon richly wooded valley, through
which silver stream wound in devious chan
mel. Following the course OF the river, pres
emily came 10 an ancient stone bridge of three
arches. Sweetly uncovered in trees. the ven
cradle bridge seemed TO me a cool and delight
full retreat after the heat Of my walk. The wa
tiers ripPled and cleaned. the swifts few up and
down and through the arches OF the bridge
Here would rest for a while. Seated on one of
The buttresses Of the bridge was an old lady in
bombaZne. placid old dame she was with
kpectacies Oh nose and good book ON her knee
was rather puzzled at the position in which
found her; for she did Mt seem an obtrusive old
iaGy, and Yet her pose was somewhat conspic-
GoUs. But hearing little tinkle of chatter and
laughter. looked farther, and saw reclining on
grassy bank higher up the stream two girls
sketehing; third was sitting by the stream
dropping the petals of flowers into the river
II ne Oid usime was eNlutntiy placed there to
give effect To the sketches. | felt il also incum-
bent upon me to pose myself on the bridge, SO
that might enlIyen the landscape. was not
near enough 10 see the faces OF the girls, but
knew by the busy working Of their pencils that
they had taken advantage of their model So
rested on the bridge till they had done with me
and then walked slowly inward till came 10
the entrance TO a Park-a 1atl,ler stile in a wall
T" Is this Deimere Park, my lad?'' cried to a
young agrieulturist who was sauntering along
BY the wall
e. Yes IL be, >" said he.
Now DelDere Park was the object OF INV
quest; here had to fulfill INV mission.
The house itself found in the middle of the
psrk-a large white house with classic portion
contrasting oddly with the striped sun blinds
and trim lawns about it.
hate these big houses, with their state and
style; nothing but the love 1 bore nv friend
would have made me visit such house. There
vas ball-porter, who looked doubtfully at nv
dusty Gle thss, a. my kISpsack, which was slung
over my back, on the sword " hieh carried in
black leather case.
j. Sir John Delmere n homer" said.
Hem, IL amt Sir John now; what was
YOU please to want? Is il barrometers?v he
ezln, looking Again a the ~ N