The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1878-01-18
TAKING TT LOOLLY.

Some Of many instances of extraordinary
GOODNESS in the midst of danger am other
wise that have been recorded a1e here Of
fcred to our readers, together with some
amusing sayings and CUIngs. When gal
liant Ponsonby lay grievously wounded on
the field Of Waterloo he forgot his own
desperate plight while wa ching an eucoun-
ter between a couple Of French lancer and
one of his own men. crt of from his troop.
AS the Frenchmen came down upon Muir
ply, he, using his sword as if it were a
shilelagh, knocked their lancss alternately
aside again and again. Then suddenly
setting spurs to his horse, he galluped off
full speeo, his eager foes following in hot
pursuit, but not quite neck and neck.
Wheeling rOnnd at exactly the right mo-
ment the lrishman, rushing at the fore
most fellow, parried his lance and struck
him down. The second, pressing on to
avenge his comrade, was cut through dag
onally by Murphy's sword, falling to the
earth without cry or groan while the
victor scarcely glancing at his handiwork,
trotted off whistling The Grinder"
Ponsonby's brave cavalry man knew how
to take things cooly, which, according to
Colonel X. p. Anderson, is the specia vir-
tue of the British an-of- war, who, having
the utmost reliance in himself and his com
mander, is neither easily over-exci ed nor
alarmed III support Oh DIS dSSeG-
tion the Colonel relates how two tars,
strolling up from the Dill Kusha Park,
where Lord Clyde's army was stationed,
towards the Residency position at Luck
now, directed their steps by the pickets of
horse and foot. Suddenly a twenty four
pound shot struck the road just in front of
them. ''I'm blessed Bill" said one of the
tars, 'if this here channel is properly buoy
ed - aud on the happy -go-lucky pair went
RI ia RpsI nl llu 4
they had been on Portsmouth Hard. Dur
ing the same siege very young private of
the One Hundred and Second was on sent
ry, when an eight inch shell, fired from a
gun hundred yards off burst close to him,
making deal of noise, and throwing up
an immense quantity of earth. Colonel
Anderson rushed to the spot. TIE youth
full soldier was standing quietly at bis post,
close to where The shell had just exploded.
Being asked what ha6 happened he replied
unconcerneGly, Il think a shell has busted
sir.''
Toward the close of the fight of Iukei-
mann, Lord Raglan, returning from taking
leave of Gen. Strangways, met a sergeant
carryi ing water for the wounded. The
sergeant drew himself up to salute, when
round shot came bounding over the hill
and knocked his forage cap out of his hand.
The man picked it up, busted it on his
knee, placed it carefully on his head and
made the salute, not a muscle of his conn
tenance moving the while. "A neat thing
that my man ~ said Lord Rag Ian. Eyes
my lord" returned the sergeant with an-
other salute, ''bui miss is good as
mile" The commander was probably not
surprised by such an exhibition of sang
froid, being himself good that way. He
was badly hurt at Waterloo, aud, say>::the
Prince of Orange, who was in the hospital
II was not conscious of the presence of
Lord Fitzroy Somerset until | heard him
call out in his ordinary tone, Hello ! Don't
carry that arm away till l have taken off
my ring p Neither wound nor operation
had extoTted groan from his lips.
The Indian prides himself upon taking
good I'll in the quietest of ways, and
from tale told in Mr.. Marshall's Cana
dian Dominion his civilized half brother
would seem to be equally unemot ional.
Thanks mainly to a certain Mets of half
be ed in the service of The Hudson Bay
Company, a Sioux warrior was found gull
ty of stealing a horse. and condemned to
pay the animals value by instalments at
one of the company's forts. On paying the
last instalmeDt he received his quittauce
from the man who had brought him to jus
tice, and left the office. A few moments
later the Sioux returned ; advanced on his
noiseless moccasins within pace of The
writing table and leveled his musket full
at the half breeds head, but his hair was
singed off in broad mass. The smoke
clearing away, the Indian was amazed to
see that his enemy still lived. The other
looked him full in the eyes for an instant
and quietly resumed his writing. The In
dian silently departed unpursued, those
who would have given chase being stopped
by the half-breed with, ''Go back to your
dinner and leave the affair to me-
When evening came, few whites. curl
Gus to see how the matter would end. ac-
companied the Metis to the Sioux encamp-
ment. At certain distance he bade them
wait, and advanced alone to the Indian
tent. Before one of these sat crouched the
baffled savage, singing his death-hymn to
the tom tom. He complained that he must
now say goodbye to wife and child, to the
sunlight. to his gun and the chase. He
told his friends in the spirt-land to expect
him that night, when he would bring them
all the news of their tribe. He swung his
body back wards and forwards as he chanted
his strange song, but never once 10 X d up
not even when his foe spurued him with
his foot. He only sang on. and awai ed his
fate Then the half reed bent his head
aud spat down on the crouching Sioux. aud
turned leisurely away-a crueller revenge
Than if he had shot him dead.
1t is not given to every one to play the
philosopher, and accept fortunes Suffets
and favo.s with equal placidity. HoratIos
are scarce. But there are plenty of people
capable Of behaving like Spartans vi hen The
trou Bile does not touch their individuality.
How can get out If this?' asked sn