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Page 18
A post chaise now came in sight, when an officer stepped forward, as
it drove to the water's edge, and assisted a lady to alight from it.
Her eyes were red with weeping and her trembling limbs seemed scarcely
able to support her sinking frame. Her husband, for such I found he
was, who had gone towards the vehicle, showed little less emotion than
herself, which he, however, strove hard to suppress. These were
parents, whom each successive wave would bear still further from their
lovely offspring, towards whom their aching hearts would yearn, long
after their childish tears had ceased to flow. They, poor little
things, knew not the blessings they were about to lose, but their fond
and anxious father and mother could not forget, that they had
consigned them to strangers, who might or who might not be kind to
them, and who had too many under their care, to feel, or even show the
endearing tenderness that marks parental love.
In regimental costume, also, stood one, quite aloof, and from his
history, (which I afterwards learnt,) I found that his position on the
beach corresponded with that in which he stood in the world--alone;
cared for by none, himself indifferent to all around him; every
kindlier affection had withered in his breast. He was careless whither
he went or what became of him. Yet was he not always so, for he had
known a parent's and a husband's love. His now blighted heart had
often beaten with rapture, as the babe, on which he doted, first
lisped a father's name, taught by a mother, whose smile of affection
was, for years, the sun that gladdened his existence. But these bright
visions of happiness had all flown; that being whom he had so fondly
loved had dishonoured him, and neglected his boy, and on his return,
he found one in the grave, the other living in infamy.
Among the soldiers, I noticed one, on whom not more than nineteen
summers had shone; nay, less than that. His light and joyous heart
seemed bounding with delight, as he witnessed the busy scene that met
his wondering eyes. An aged woman stood near him, whose blanched and
withered cheek but ill accorded with the cheerful look of her
light-hearted thoughtless son. She took his hand, and sobbed out, "Oh,
George, my poor boy, little thought I to see the day when I should be
thus forsaken; I did hope you would now have staid with me, and been a
comfort in my old days."
"Hush, hush! grand-mother, the boys are all looking at you. Come, now,
don't be blubbering so foolishly, I shall soon come back again."
"Come back again, boy! afore that day comes, these poor old bones will
be mouldering in the dust. But God's will be done, and may his
blessings be upon you; I know there must be soldiers, but oh, 'tis
hard, so very hard, to part with one's only child. Oh, after the care
I have taken to bring you up decently, to lose you thus; and how I
worked, day and night, to buy you off before, and yet you listed
again, though a month had not passed over your head. God help me,"
said she sighing, "for even this trial could not be without God's
will, for without that, not a sparrow could fell to the ground. But
stay, do wait a bit longer," said she, catching him by the belt, as he
was manifesting a restless impatience to join the busy throng.
"You will promise to write to me, George, you will not forget that?"
"Yes, yes, to be sure, mother, I'll write."
The sergeant now began to call the muster roll, and the poor old
creature's cheek grew whiter still as the lad exclaimed:
"Now, mother, I must fall into the ranks; good bye, good bye."
"May God Almighty preserve thee, my child; you may one day be a parent
yourself, and will then know what your poor old grandmother feels this
day."
The lad had by this time passed muster, and was soon after on board.
The afflicted grand-mother stood, with her eyes transfixed on the
vessel, gazing on her unheeding boy, who, insensible to the agonizing
feelings that rent her breast, felt not one single throe of regret,
his mind being entirely engrossed in contemplating the bright future,
which the sergeant, who enlisted him, had drawn.
Captain Ormsby, who commanded the detachment, was a man of feeling; he
had particularly noticed the poor woman's distress.
"Be comforted," said he, "I will watch over the lad, for your sake,
and will try and take him under my immediate charge, and if he behaves
well, I may be able to serve him. I will see that he writes to you."
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