The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1880-10-22
THE LOST DIAMOND sNUFF.BOx.

THE LOST DIAMOND SNUFF.BOX.
The grand old Kingdom of England,
in the course of the messy centuries
YOU can count over its head, has had
its times of gloom and depression at
dangers that looked near, and its times
of shouting and rejoicing over dangers
it's brave men have driven away quite |
out of sight again.
One of the deepest seasons OF gloom
was when the French Emperor. Ma
poleon, had conquered one country |
after another, until there was scarcely |
but England left to attack;
and one Of the proudest times OF relolc-
ing was when the 81 Iron Duke" Wei
lington, and the bluff old Prussian,
Butcher, met him at Waterloo, defeated
his armies and drove him from the
field. There were bonfres and bell-ring-
ings then, and from that day onward En-
Gland loved and cherished every man
who had fought at Waterloo-from the
Iron Duke himself down to the plainest
private, every one was q hero and a
In one of the humblest houses of a
proud nObleman's estate, low, white
washed cottage, one of these veterans
lived not so very many years ago. He
had fought by his flag in one OF the
most gallant regiments until the last
hour of the battle, and then had fallen
disabled from active service for the
rest of his life.
That did not seem to be of so very
great consequence, though, just now;
for peace reigned in the land, and with
his wife and two beautiful daughters to
love, his battles to think over and his
pension to provide the bread and coffee,
the old soldier was as happy as the day
was long. 1t made no difference that
the bread and the coffee were both
black. and the clothes of the veteran
were coarse and seldom new
.'Ho, Peggyr' he used to say to his
wife, "my cloak is as fine as the one
the Iron Duke wore when they carried
me past him Just as the French were
breaking; and as for the bread. only q
veteran knows how the recollection OF
victory makes everything taste sweet!
But it seemed as if the old soldier 8
life was going to prove like his share IN
that great day at Waterloo-success
and victory till the end had nearly
come, and then one shot after another
striking him with troubles he could
never get over.
The first came in the midst OF the
beautiful summer days, when the bees
droned through the delicious air. the
rose-bush was in full bloom, and the
old soldier sat in the cottage door re-
velinp in it all. A slow, merciless
fever rose up through the soft ART
did not venture near the high ground
where the castle stood, but it crept
noiselessly into the white-washed cot
taoe. one night, and the soldiers two
daughters were stricken down. Inns
was the beginning of terrible trouble to
the veteran of Waterloo. Not that nc
minded watching, for he was used to
standing sentry all night, and as fol
nursing. he had seen plenty of the
hospital: but to see his daughters suffer
inc that was what he could not bear
And worst of all, between medicines
and necessaries for the sick, the three
months pension was quite used up
and when the old soldiers nursing hat
pulled through the fierceness OF tn.
fever. there was nothing but blacl
bread left in the house-and blacl
bread was almost the same as no brea'
at all to the dainty appetites the feve
had left: and that was what he had t.
think of, and think OF, as he eat In tn
..Bshr' said the old soldier, wit
something more like a groan than wa
ever heard from him while his wound
were being dressed, 81 could face q
the armies of Napoleon better tina
thisr'
And he sat more and more in tn
cottage door, as if that could leave tn
trouble behind; but it stood staring be
fore him. all the same, till it almos
shut the rosebush and the bees out {
sirht. But one morning tremendou
surprise came to him like flash on
of the sky! He heard the sound {
galloping troops. and he pricked up hi
ears, for that always made him think
acavalry charge.
...Who goes there?" he cried; br
without answering his challenge tn
sound came nearer and nearer. and
lackey in full livery dashed up to ia
door. and presented him with q mol
sealed with the blood-red seal OF tt
castle arms. 1t was an invitation
dine at the castle with company
noblemen and officers of the arm.
His lordship. who had also fought
Waterloo. had Just learned that cor
rade was living on his estate, and mao