The Boy Soldier; Or, Garibaldi's Young Captain — page 132: what you’re looking at

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

126 cs nee CT THE BOY SOLDIER; OR, GARIBALDI’S YOUNG CAPTAIN. e I have, let me return to my father, there to die, for I would not cause you a moment’s:pain for all the wealth in Italy.” “You, Agnese, you!” said Frank, with a flashing eye, and crimsoned cheeks, “ No, dear girl, it is not you, believe me.” ‘Then who else?” ‘“Well, dear one, I have great cause to be thoughtful. One of my bravest boys is dead.” ‘“Dead? Who is dead?” “ Dick Fellows,” said Frank, sadly. ‘He died last night, A’s brave a lad as ever breathed,” ‘*7’m sorry, very sorry to hearthat, for you loved him as a brother, I have often heard you say SO,”” “J did, Agnese, Ifit had been my brother Tom I could not have felt more sorrow. Oh! it was hard to part with such a companion as he was,” “Last night he died ?” “Yes, and a sad, sad sight it was,” said Frank. ‘He knew that death was drawing nigh, and he sent forme. I went into his tent. There he lay, looking calm, and pale, and resigned, He had been attended to daily by some kind old clergyman of the neighbouring town, and was quite resigned, When I entered the tent his eyes brightened up, and a faint flush mounted his pallid cheeks. I sat down upon the’ straw, and took his hand in mine.. For several moments I could not speak; neither could he. I felt as if my very soul would burst, as I felt the faint pulsations of his heart. For there he lay wounded and dying, far away from relations and home, and in the land of strangers, I could—I would most willingly have exchanged my lot for his, for he was a dear, brave, and generous lad. For some moments he looked at me calmly and resigned. ‘Frank,’ he whispered, ‘I shall not long be here.’ ‘I tried to rally him, but he faintly smiled and said, “* Nay, ’tis useless to cheer me up, I know the whole. truth, the doctor has told me all, I am going home fast, Frank, very fast ; give my love to all the brave lads, and my dying blessing and love to father and mother, I know I did wrong in running away from home without asking them, but I wanted to be a soldier, Frank, like you,’ “*And you have been a braye one, Dick,’ I answered, “Nay, Frank, I have done my duty, and that only. I lived like a true English volunteer, and I hope to die like one, Bury me like a soldier upon the battle field.’ ‘A long pause ensued here between us, Agnese,” said Frank, “which was only disturbed by Fatty, who crept into the tent with his two eyes red and swollen with weeping. ‘‘ He was quickly followed by young Buttons, and at last the tent was crowded by the boys, who wished to surround Dick’s death-bed, and do him honour to the last, “ Mark sat on one side, and I on the other, ‘Poor Dick smiled on’ his young companions, one or two of whom, beside Fatty and Buttons, were silently weeping, ‘He shook hands with all, and seemed resigned to his fate. ‘The only words he said, beside the message for his father and mother, were these, ‘My brave lads, follow Captain Frank, and obey him in all things |’ and then he whispered in my ear, ‘You will have much trouble and annoyance about your uncle’s murder when you return to Wngland, Frank, but recollect my words, you have not to go farther than to Jonathan and old Flint’ to have the whole matter cleared up, and your own honour vin-) dicated.’ , | “Then addressing the boys, each by name, he said “Te T were rich, lads, I would leave you all some valuable memento of my friendship and dying love; but, soldier-like, I have nothing but what my kit contains.’ “ His knapsack was brought to. the bed-side and opened, “ He gave me his cloak, his photograph, and one of his revolvers, ‘“‘ Mark had the other, and a valuable dirk also. “He gave Buttons a pretty cigar case. Fatty was handed his sword, ‘In truth, every one of the sorrowful lads re- — ceived some small present from the dying boy, and knelt around him with sorrowful hearts. ‘‘¢ When I am dead, Frank,’ he whispered, ‘ undo my flannel shirt—you will find something there you will recognize : keep it, and let no one see it—let no one have it but the person who gave it to me— you understand !’ . ‘‘T nodded and took his hand, Mark the other, ‘* He smiled upon us all, and while murmuring a sweet prayer, closed his eyes. ‘“‘ His head fell back, * He was dead |” “Poor boy! brave youth! And what was it you found round his neck?” Agnese asked, while tears trickled down her fair face. ‘The likeness of his sweetheart.” From the day he received it until the hour of his death he wore it like a sacred charm upon his’ heart, ‘And who was she ?” | ‘The only sister of our favourite tutor at Bromley Hall, Mr, Caspar.” While thus he spoke he suddenly rose to his feet. The sounds of distant mournful music fell upon his ear. It was a military band approaching and’ playing a solemn funeral dirge. “Tt is poor Dick’s funeral,” said Frank. ‘I for- got the hour, and must away.” . | He hurried from the inn, and as he did so wiped » a solitary tear from his eye, which, despite all his manhood and resolution, had involuntarily stolen down his sun-burnt cheeks, As he dashed down stairs, he was met by a young girl dressed like a Sister of Charity. He tried to look at her face. But she avoided his gaze, , Yet, as he left the house, she looked after him and lingered on the stairs, It was Nelly Lancaster in disguise! she was going to the sick girl’s chamber, : CHAPTER: XLY. TERESA THE SPY—STRANGE STORY AND ADVEN- TURES—ESCAPE OF HUGH TRACY FROM PRISON, SLowLy and mournfully the funeral procession moved towards the spot where Dick’s grave had been dug the night before by Fatty and Buttons, Frank soon overtook the cortege, and now walked as chief mourner. | Next came the officers of the company, Then a detachment of Boy Soldiers, who, with arms reversed, were to fire over the grave. The rear was brought up by alarge deputation of officers from different regiments, who thus came to, do honour to the brave lad now dead. | a (EOMMKElNOOKS Co)