The Child of Waterloo, or, The Horrors of the Battle-Field — page 65: what you’re looking at

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

62 THE CHILD OF WATERLOO. unless you like, and I must warn you that every word you do say will be taken down.” ‘‘T have little to say,” said Jem, ‘‘but that I am entirely innocent of the deed. I was foolish enough to go and sleep ina bed where I had no busines3, and beyond that I know nothing of it. ‘¢ That is all you wish to say ?” ‘* That is all, sir.” ‘*Then I shall feel it, at all events, my duty to remand you ti]l this day week, and during that period of tiine every attempt shall be made to capture this beggar man, who seems in some way connected with these most disastrous proceedings.” ‘*It’s of no use me accusing anybody, of course,” said Jem; ‘‘ but if he did not do the deed, I will consent to be hung.” “What is the matter?’ said Sir Francis. ‘‘ There has been nothing but tumult for the last five minutes at the lower part of the hall.” ‘* Please your worship, he won’t wake up,” cried one. *¢ What is it?” “ Troubled Tom, your worship.” ‘*T want to be quiet,” said a voice. ‘‘ They won’t let me. Oh, what a trouble! What's it all about? How’s the dog?” ‘“* What does he mean ?” ‘“‘ What do you mean?” cried Toggs, who was near to Troub- led Tom, and now effectually awakened him by a tweak of the nose, ‘* Sir,” said Tom, ‘‘ what a trouble. You won’t have to get any more tripe for Pincher. I seed the feliow put a knife in him, Sir, what a trouvle. It was that beggar fellow. Well, there’s nothing but trouble.” “Do you mean my dog Pincher ?” said Toggs. ‘“In course I does. The beggar fellow did his business. Oh, IT seed it with my own eyes. It was a trouble, but I did see it.” ‘‘Come forward,” cried Sir Francis Kuoightley. ‘‘ What’s that he says about a beggar? Bring that boy here!” ‘‘Sir,” said Tom, as he was brought forward, ‘“‘there’s going to be a trouble. Oh, dear, oh, dear!” ‘‘Who are you? Tell me your name,” said Sir Francis, ‘¢Qh, dear—Tom Sharp.” **Do you know the nature of an oath?” ‘‘ Ah, all sorts o’ natures. If you tells the blessed truth, you goes to Heaven without any trouble. If you don’t, you goes to BZE8, ‘“‘T am bound to consider that answer sufficient,” said Sir Francis. ‘‘ Therefore swear him.” Tom was sworn, and then Sir Francis said,— ** Now, what have you to say about a beggar man ?” ‘Oh, dear me! Well, well—what atrouble. I went to slee in one of Toggs’ barns, close by Pincher. He knows me, an only says a surt of ‘ How are you, Troubled Tom? when I comes and lays down among the straw. Well, in course I forgets my troubles, and goes to sleep; but there’s always a something to wake one up. Well, I heard a row, and it waked me, and then comicbooks. com