Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1893-06-29
A WATERLOO VETERAN.
He Was Proud OF His Medal and
His Son.

our little Canadian Lake Erie village / !
never new. Drifted him2 No; he ever
marched as II under the orders of his |
commander. Tall, thin, white-haired, |
close shaven and always In knee
breeches and long stockings, he was an
antique and martial figure. Fresh
whitefish," was his cry, which he de-
livered as II calling all the village TO
fall in for drill.
So impressive was his demeanor that
he dignifed his occupation. For years
after he disappeared, the peddling Of
whitefish by horse and cart was re-
garded In that district as highly re-
spectacle. 1t was a glorious trade
when old John Locke held the steel
yards and served out the glittering fish
with an air of distributing ammunition
for long days combat.
believe l noticed on the first day I
saw him how he tapped his left breast
with proud gesture when he had done
with n lot of customers and was about
TO march again at the head of his horse.
That restored him from trade TO his sol
diership-he had saluted his Waterloo
medal
There, beneath his threadbare old
blue coat, it lay, always felt by the heart
of the hero.
"why doesn't he wear it outsider" I
once asked.
'He used to-" said my father, "till
Hiram Scudder, the druggist, asked
him what he'd take for the bit Of pew
| ter"
"What did old John say, sir2"
"'Take for the bit of pewterl said
| ha lnnlripn hard ~ Cnuddar With annr,f
I've took better mems lives nor ever
yours was for to get 1t, and I'd sell my
own for II as quick as ever l offered 1t
before
More fool YOU said Scudder.
YOU'RE nowt,' said old John, very
calm and cool, you're nowt but walk
ing dirt From that day forth he would
never sell Scudder a fish; he wouldn't
touch his money"
II must have been late in 1854 or
early in 1855 that first saw the medal.
Going home from school on bright
winter afternoon met old John walls-
ing very erect, without his usual fish
supply. A dull, round white spot was
clusped on the left breast Of his coat.
MIR. Locke" said the small boy,
staring with admiration, sis that your
glorious Waterloo medal?'
You're good little lad!"
lie stopped to let me see the noble
pewter.
Wars declared against Rooshia,"
went on the old man, land now's right
to show IL. The old regiments sailed,
and my only son is with the colors."
Then he took me by the hand and led
me into the village store, where the
lawyer read aloud the news from the
paper that the old veteran gave him. In
those days there was no railway within
fifty miles Of u.s. 1t had CHANGED that
some fisherman brought old John a
later paper than any previously received
in the village.
"Ay, but the duke is gone" said he,
shaking his white head, land it's curious
TO be fighting on the same side with an
other Boney."
All that winter and the next, all the
long summer between, old John dis
played his medal When the report
of Alma came his remarks on the French
failure TO get into the fight were severe.
"What was they ever without Boney?'
he would inquire.
But letter from his son after InlSer-
man changed all that.
"Half of us was killed, and the rest
OF MS clean tired with fighting" wrote
Corporal Locke. "What with a bullet
through the flesh of my right leg and
, the fatigue of using the bayonet so long,
, ! was like TO drop.
1.-The Russians were coming on again
as II there was no end to them, when
strange drums came sounding in the
mist behind u.s. With that we closed
up and faced half-round, thinking they
had outfaulSed 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 Empereurr their
drums beating the charge. We gave
!, them room, for we were too dead tired
= TO go first. On they went like mad al
s the Russians, so that was the end of q
y hard mornings work | was down
c tainted with loss of blood, but will
= soon be fit for duty again. When
q came TO myself there was u Frenchmar
pouring brandy down my throat anc
talking in his gibberish as kind as any
Christian. Never a word will say agiI
them red-legged French again"
l. 'Show me the man that would,
., growled old John. at was never IL
e them French TO act cowardly. Didn'
they beat all the world, except us anS
IN the duke?"
With the ending OF the Crimean wa
III our village was illuminated. Rows o
tallow candles in every window, fire
nj works In vacant field and a torchligh
'e processioul Old John marched at 1t
head in fun rcgimentals, straight us
~ ramrod, the hero of the night.
is His son had been promoted sergean
It, for bravery on the Geld. We boy
thought the old army of Wellingto
,ls kept ghostly step with John Locke, Will
C. aerial drums pealed and beat with re
- joieing at the new glory OF English
w speaking men.
Altar aAAA thA aid man -AEsin vnT