The Forrest City times., 1893-05-12

strange drums came sounding in the mist behind us. With that we closed up and faced half-round, thinking they had outfanked us and the day was gone, so there was nothing more to do but make out to die hard, like the sons of Waterloo men. You would have been pleased to see the looks of what was left of the old regiment, father. ''Then all of sudden French column came up the rise out of the mist, roaring 'Vive rEmpereur!' their drums beating the charge. We gave them room, for we were too dead tired to go first. On they went like mad at the Russians, so that was the end of hard mornings work. I was down, tainted with loss of blood, but will soon be fit for duty again. When came to myself there was a Frenchman pouring brandy down my throat and talking in his gibberish as kind as any Christian. Never word will say agin them red-legged French again
 ''Show me the man that would" growled old John. Ut was never in them French to act cowardly. Didn't they beat all the world, except us and the duke?"
 With the ending of the Crimean war our village was illuminated. Rows of tallow candles in every window, fire works in a vacant field and torchlight procession! Old John marched at its head in full regimentals, straight as a ramrod, the hero of the night.
 His son had been promoted sergeant for bravery on the field. We boys thought the old army of Wellington kept ghostly step with John Locke, while aerial drums pealed and beat with re- joicing at the new glory of English speaking men.
 After that the old man again wore his medal concealed. The Chinese war of 1857 was too contemptible to cele brate by displaying his badge of Water loo
 Then came the dreadful tale of the Sepoy mutiny-Meerut, Delhi Cawn- pore. After the tale of Mana Sahib's massacre was read to old John he never smiled, think.
 Week after week, month after month, as hideous tidings poured rapidly in, his face became more haggard. gray and dreadful. The feeling that he was too old for use seemed to shame him. He no longer carried his head high as of yore. That his son was not march ing behind Havelock with the aveng- ing army seemed to cut the veteran sorely. Sergt. Locke had sailed with the old regiment to join Outram in Persia before the Sepoys broke loose.
 lin feared something's gone wrong with my heart"
 Months went by before we learned that the troops for Persia had been stopped on their way and thrown into India against the mutineers. At that news old John marched into the village with prouder air than he had worn for many days. His medal was again displayed on his breast.
 It was but the next month, l think, that the village lawyer stood reading aloud the account of a great Sepoy fort The veteran entered the post office and all made way for him. The reading went on:
 ''The blowing open of the eastern gate was the grandest personal exploit of the attack. It was performed by native sappers covered by the fire of tLe Sixtieth regiment and headed by Lieuts Howe and Salkeld, SergtS Smith, Carmichael Burgess and Locke"
 The lawyer paused. Every eye turned to the face of the old Waterloo soldier. He strengthened up to keener attention, threw out his chest, tapped the glorious medal and so saluted the names of the brave.
 ''God be praised, my son was there!' he said. Read on."
 "Sergt. Carmichael. while laying the havildar wounded. The powder having been laid the advance party slipped down into the ditch to allow the firing party, under Lieut.. Salkeld, to do it's duty.
 While trying to fire the charge he was shot through one leg and arm. He sank. but handed the match to Sergt. Burgess, who was at once shot dead. Sergt. Locke, already wounded severe ly in the shoulder, then seized the match and succeeded in firing the train. He fell at that moment literally riddled with bullets"
 Read on" said old John, in deeper voice. All forbore to look twice upon his face
 "Others of the party were falling when the mighty gate was blown to fragments, and the Oxford light in- fantry. under Col. Campbell, rushed into the breach"
 There was long silence in the post office till old John spoke once more.