Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1893-07-07
A SACRIFICE.

OF lS54-5, memorable Tor the Crlmean war,
whose terrible stories of danger, privaton
and heroism the veterans delight to tell by
Che fireside at home.
The cold was intense, snow lay thick
upon the ground and was still falling
noiselessly through the gray and dusky air
upon an English camp in the Crimea. A
space had been cleared around the tents,
and the men were seeking such warmth as
was to be obtained around the tampfires.
1t was the eve of battle, as one versed in
lhe ways of wars could tell by the anxious
looks on the mems white, unshaven faces.
There was none of that reckless bravado of
which romancers tells us. The men were
silent or spoke only in whispers. Their
thoughts were doubtless too oppressive for
more loudly spoken words. 1t was the ter
rible Russian winter. Tomorrow they were
to fight, and the air was heavy with proph-
ecies of death.
Sergeant Easterbrook sat there, gazing
into the glowing depths of the fire. He
was a tall, broad shouldered man, of about
IS. but grizzled and unkempt as he now
was you would have taken him to be old
er. Crouching close beside him was little
Charlie Hilton, Il recruit-almost a boy, in
deed, but there was sort of friendship be-
tween these two for both came from the
same village at home, in the garden of
England quiet little village perched up
on hill, at the foot of which lay the fair
weald of Kent.
Sergeant" the recruit whispered, ''if
anything should happen to me tomor
| row" -
"Why, you talk just like the old handsl'
We'll, why not? There's as much chance
of my getting potted as any one else"
Are you afraid?"
Afraid? mol Are you?"
Yes the elder man answered, with a
sad, quiet smile Il don't believe there
death-aye, the bravest of them it goes
along with the fear of Godp'
But if anything should happen to me-"
Charlie persisted.
oh, you'll be all right, youngster."
1T is not because am youngster that
| am any safer. Those COMPOUNDED Rus
slams don't pick out whom they'll hit.
want you to promise me, sergeant, that
when all is done tomorrow, if you should
find my-if you should find me among the
dead-you will take this letter that is in
side my Jacket The other fellows might
laugh if they knew, and she would not like
it, But you know her We are to be mar
ried if come safe out of this. If don't,
think she would like to know that fel!
with my face to the enemyr'
This time the young fellow fairly broke
down.
You say know her May ask who
she isl"
Yes, don't mind telling you. 1t is
Mary Ashford"
"Maryl The daughter of Farmer Ash
fordp'
Yes"
Then there was a dead silence between
them, during which, as the Pickering fire
light danced upon his features, any one
who had been watching him would have
read a world of unspoken thoughts upon
the sergeant's face-a short but pathetic
history of human woe Such an observer
would have read his secret, would have I'M
derstood that Noel Easterbrook loved Mary
Ashford too That he had imagined and
hoped that his love might some day be re-
Quilted, until these words came to dispel his
dream-words spoken in all innocence, but
which pierced his heart as fatally as could
have done n Cossack's lance thrust.
1t was Hilton who first broke silence.
You have not answered me, sergeant,
he said Won't you promise me what
asked your"
subdued tone, which betrayed no emotion
~ will do you this little service if you
should require it, and if am in position
to perform it,"
THANK you so much. And you will take
the letter back to her9
YES" with some hesitation. II will
take it back to her If live"
At this moment an officer came among
them, and the soldiers rose and saluted.
I'VE want some men," said he, ito go for
ward and reconnoiter the enemy 5 outposts
The duty may be a dangerous one"
IN 20, if you please, captain" Sergean
Easterbrook said, stepping forward
Very we'll. Take three men with you.
"l'll come with YOU" said young Hilton
NO. not you, youngster," the sergean
exclaimed hastily in a strange tone.
Let him go, since he has volunteered, :
rejoined the captain, who was a strict dis
ciplinarian. Let the lad learn his duty
1t is just this sort of daring pluck whicl
upholds the honor of the union jackP'
Easterbrook was silenced, since he mus
needs yield to his superior officer, and few
minutes later the sergeant, Hilton and tw
other soldiers were passing over the snow
clad plain, with their muskets upon thei
shoulders. fitting like four shadows in tn
tWhlRnt Out OF the brltlSn camp
Not word was spoken. Everything dc
. pended upon silence and discretion. TIL
snow was falling faster now and obliterate
the mems footsteps as they walked on. Tn
country was bleak and open. There wer
only few trees here and there, whic
tossed their great bare branches in the wiz
try wind like giants writhing to be fire
n from some spell.
: After they had marched for nearly a
4 hour they approached frozen stream, an
). on a hillock upon the opposite bank coul
y dimly descry the fires of the Russian CAM
half hidden by their outworks The
crossed the river, and then hating Sergean
; Easterbrook spoke for the first time.
/. MY men," he said, lin case anythin
4 should happen to one or other of us W
must all keep our eyes open and waite
what we can see, so as to report at hea(
= quarters tonight"
: Then he turned, and again they went O
. silently. Easterbrook, with his quiet n
serve and firm but kindly manners wa
Ii