The Child of Waterloo, or, The Horrors of the Battle-Field — page 30: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

THE CHILD OF WATERLOO, 27 The dog, too, and dogs will often do such things, actually par- ticipated in his master’s grief, and when he heard Charles call- ing out in such tones, he set up a how) that was heard far and near, and added greatly to the scene of confusion and dismay that now ensued. Old women don’t often make very valuable discoveries; but it was reserved for an ancient nurse in the fam- ily, who came hobbling up when Mabel had been raised from the ground, to ascertain really what was the matter. ‘*The dear child has only fainted,” she exclaimed. ‘‘ Lord bless you, in my time, when I was young, a matter of fifty years ago, the young ladies never dreamt of fainting. Bring her along—bring her along.” Henry Morton, who had in common with every one else heard the outcry which was made in the house by his brother and the dog, had rushed to the scene of action; nor was his wife far be- hind him; and taking the light form of Mabel tenderly in his arms, he carried her into the nearest apartment, and laid her on a couch. ““Poor Mabel!” exclaimed his wife; ‘‘ we will have medical assistance, Henry; I will send some one.” ‘‘If you wish to do so. Alice, certainly; but if it be that she has only fainted, you can doas much for her as any medical man.” | “Brother,” said Charles, addressing Henry, ‘‘let me get med- ical advice, will you? I can ride the bay mare over to the vil- lage and get the doctor.” | enry was upon the point of saying that he gave his full con- sent for Charles to go, when a voice, which our readers could have recognized, chimed into the conversation, saying: ‘* Don’t, sir, now don’t be after sending for these rogues of doctors, sir, to poor Miss Mabel; bless the lights of her two dar- lint eyes, sir, don’t doit. It’s always dangerous to send for a doctor, sir.” It was no other than our old friend, Rafferty Brolickbones, who held and had held ever since that memorable day when fate had thrown him and Mr. Morton, then the young wounded ensign, together on the field of Waterloo, 4 high place in the latter’s esteem. ‘* If so be, sir,” he added, ‘‘ you will have a doctor, let me go. sir, and not little Charley here, who is all of a shake, like an ould jelly bag, if you plase, sir.” ‘‘ No, Rafferty, there is really no occasion.” ‘‘Thank you. sir. Bedad, I didn’t think asthere was. As for fainting, its mighty genteel nowadays, sir. More’s the pity it was invented. But as for doctors, sir, I can tell you there’s mighty great danger of having them. The old man, sir, my father, never had a doctor all the days of his life; but, at last, one day. he had two, and, sure enough, that settled the busi- ness, and he went as dead as nothing, sir, before you could say pace to him.” ‘‘ Ah,” chuckled the old nurse, ‘she is coming round again: dear, dear me, what has been the matter? You must help her comicbooks. com