The Wellington enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 1867-188?, 1885-05-06

alone III Une neluS IN JnOSe rOuyh tiulO1-
He was sadly dilapidated tramp in the
matter of ragged regimentals, and too
stalwart and young to make it fitting
that he should be out Of work, If but a
laborer's. There was something Pc
culiar in his look, too, rs he looked on
Farmer Blackthorn without speaking O.
word.
Cant you speak, manp Have you a
tinder-boX-ay or noP'
The mans hand made dive some
where, and brought out battered tin
box, once round in shape, that brought
sparkle into Tom Blackthorn's eyes.
"Thank you, my good fellow. A
friend in need is friend indeed. i" He
drew in the first smoke, all the sweeter
for delay, and exhaled it with a grunt
and sigh.
$50 you're a soldierP'' asked he.
IL have been a soldier" said the
man. Don't you-don't you know
who"
"Ah; I'm sharp enough. I thought
so, by your clothes. A soldier ah.
Soldiers a sad word to me. But proud
one, too" ..l.
He must have changed, indeed, to be
sitting on stile and chatting with a
wandering soldier. So changed that
he half smiled in the others eyes, as If
counting a question, so that he might
have an excuse for chatting a little
more. But, as no question came, he
went on talking as much to himself as
to his listener, as old men will when
they turn garrulous and have no outlet
in common way.
yes" said he. ~ had boy sol
der; but not common one, like you.
He was a sergeant! Think of that, my
man-an officer, eh!'
"Good God!'' exclaimed the tramp.
"Why-"
"Ah-I thought that would take your
breath away, talking to q full sergeants
father. Poor Dick! but he always was
wildish; bit too much like the old
block, I'm afraid, when the old block
was new. Yes; full sergeant was my
boy Dick" said the old fellow, cough
ing, as it might be with the smoke, and
rubbing his hand across his eyes.
"And as brave as lion. But he died,
sir, he died. You see my hat-band?
That's for my son. "
"Diedr'
"Ay. You may well wonder thai
it's the worst that are left and the best
that 90. He was the best of sons; and
boys will be boys. Did you ever hear o.
the battle of Talavera, my man-eh9'
"Talavera-why, was therew
"God bless my soul! Man-give ui
your hand!'
"Don't you remember"
"Everything-evorything. I'm won
derful for memory. l remember things
that happened when l was seven year
old; ay, and before then. What makes
you look so sad and queerP Dash it
you're hero, II you was there. Sc
you was at Talavera, in Spain! May b
may bel was his father, you know
may be you knew my boyP May be yo'
saw him die?"
Farmer Blackthorn-"
"Ah, Blackthorn-the very name
Sergeant Blackthorn-Sergesnt RicharC
Blackthorn," went on the old fellow
eagerly. "Yes, sir; twas at Talaveri
that my boy Dick, fighting like a glori
GUS lion for King George and Old En-
gland, diedl IN wager there wasn't
man before him. They sent me wort
from London how he'd gone down; ant
by Heaven, sir-I. was the proudest-
the proudest-- Dash it all, man; di'
you never see chap swallow his smok'
the wrong way before, that you're star
ing there like alike"
"This is terribler exclaimed the sol
dier. "What am l to sayP FameI
Blackthorn, don't you remember"
Terrible, sirP TerribleP What d.
you meanP say it was glorious
glorious! And he was my only son
Did You know my boy Dick-Sergean
, Richard Blackthorn, / meanp"
[To BE Continued