The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1882-05-05
The Lad Whe Deserves the Victoria
Cross.

The Lad Whe Deserves the Victoria
Cross.
There WAS great excitement la the
town of Puri smouih one fine summer
morning. Eager crowds were gather.
ell Oh the qua, flags futtered IRON
the ships aud public buildings, and
here and there q triumphal arch had
been erected, showing that some illus
trous arrival WINS expected. The
crowds were very patient, as they
waited there for the troopship they had
assembled to welcome. You could
hear little remarks and bits of senten-
ces from one all another which told of
wife, or mother. or father, waiting to
meet the son or husband who had been
OH foreign service. The regiment had
gained great distinction abroad: and
all England was ready 10 receive Its
gallant heroes with honors. Presently
a great steamer was deserted slowly
making her way through the shipping
in the basin, aud, AS soon as she was
recognized, deafening shouts arose
from the asseu blet' multitude, and a
band struck up, "See the conunnrinO
10 .v,nus
At last the troopship was moored
SAT ly. and the men stepped on the
shore of the country they loved 30
we'll, and for which they had fought as
brsvely MS Englshmen always do. II
was hard to prevent the excited people
from breaking forward and greeting
their soldier friends as they marched In
order OH the quay. There were tears
of Joy In many eyes as one and another
bronzed face was recognized as "My
Tom" o, "My Dick, bless him!"
AS the regiment marched to their
barracks, they were followed by the
admirinR multitude, who, after all
their patient waiting, were at last al
lowed to speak with and greet their
friends when the barracks we're reach
ed, and the men fell out.
AS the crowd gradually melted
away, and one could distinguish sepa-
rate groups of people, one tall young
soldier, surrounded by several admir-
ing men, might have been specially no.
ticed. His Taco was SCARED, but the
expression was noble, SO that the Vic
toria Cross, which shonc on his breast,
seemed natural possession for one
who expressed bravery in his looks.
"Well, Tom" oire of the men was
saying, "irs something to see you back
'all covered with glory as the saving
is. vote We keep the day with some.
thing jolly. What do you say, mates2'
"Itight you are" replied a second,
whom they addressed as Joe. "We'll
90 TO the Duke of Wellington and
have a good drink. 'Taint every day
as ones friend returns from the wars,
Victoria Cross hero; come along, Pm
awfully dry"
"I'il 70 with you gladlv," said Tom,
"but not to saloon. That shan't be
the first house / set foot in after get
home again."
Joe and George stared, then broke
10 say" said joe. "No, l won't insult
q brave fellow like you. by asking ii
you're one o'them milk-ficed, whining
teetotalers."
The tone was SO insultingly con-
temptuous that flush rose on Toms
"Call me what you will" he said
sharply. 81 don't drink, and If you'll
come and have good dinner with me
some where, I'll tell you why. Don't
call nance, it never does any good"
George and Joe were quite willing
to dine with Tom Wilmot, especially
as it looked we'll TO be seen in company
with Victoria Cross. They consent.
ed TO go TO a coffee tavern In such Illus.
trious company as that, otherwise they
would not have veutured into so con.
,emplible place. as they considered IT,
| An excellent dinner was soon sInok.
| iunx hafnra than on1 fhav fnunA Tnn,s
mixture of soda water and slices OIL
fresh lemon no bad exchange for the
beer they could not get.
| "This is a horrid, mean sort of drink
to give fellows good health after bis
return from the wars," said George
Day, as he slipped his lemonade. 81
anybody else had told me
you'd took to such ways, Tom, I'd
haufr kn0Gked him down for liar"
said Joe. 6wiIeHr fams been home Q
few weeks he'll learn 10 like his beer
again"
"I think not" said Tom, "and as ia
the chaf from chaps like you, why,
I've stood more than that. With
Gods help (mind you, can't do with.
out that.) IN never drink so long as
see what deadly curse 1t is, especially
to us soldiers. Look there now, "he add
ed sadly, rising from his seat and look.
ing out of the window, "ain't that O
sight to make comrades heart ache,
and they not landed many hours%
George and Joe looked out, and saw
lhRlf a-dozen men in Wilmot's troop
staggering down the street, more than
half drunk, shouting and singing like
mad creatures. II was such q common
sight in the streets of Portsmouth, that
Joe smiled half pitingly OH Wilmot's
weakness. swell, he said, "its hard
IL they may not be bit jolly after all
their battles"
"Jollyl" said Wilmot, with whitening
scorn, 'and you call it jolly to make
yourself into a mad fool, do your But
| must tell you how got to be teeto-
ialer, perhaps you'll change your mind
then.
alt was Oh the voyage out to India,
that got TO like little drummer boy
that had only joined just as We were
starting. He was about sixteen. but q
very little puny chap for his sge, and
very quiet and distant In his ways.
We got to teas, him and call him
names, because he seemed go shy aud
milksoppy. After a bit II came out
that he had been Band Of Hope boy,
and had never tasted drink, and,
what's more. never meant to. Well,
of course, he got an awful lot of chat
for that, you could not expect different;
but II was wonderful how he stood It.
Nothing could make that boy drink,
though, shame on us for II! We did all
we could 10 make him.
"At last we arrived In port, and
there was great confusion aud excite
ment, no proper accommodation tor
the men. aud everything 10 great
mess, with the enemy In the neighbour