The Boy Soldier; Or, Garibaldi's Young Captain — page 152: what you’re looking at

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

—_— — 146 pA le Ppt D9 he ee Rao, a eS Se THE BOY SOLDIER; OR, GARIBALDI'S YOUNG CAPTAIN. 5 nr ee “Tsay, my lad, are you Captain Ford’s servant ?” said the lancer to Buttons. ‘‘Well, suppose I am ?”’ said Buttons, going on with the brushing of Frank’s boots. ‘‘ Because, if you are, take these letters to your master ; there are important despatches among them. “Be alive. I will wait for a written receipt. Come, be quick, I’m in haste,” “ Oh ! don’t be in such a hurry, life is short,” said Buttons, looking at the letters very leisurely. “Oh! there’s nothing but invitations to dinner, or something of that sort. Our captain is bothered with them every day in his life; but tell me, my friend, didn’t any of the generals send me an invita- tion, or a letter ? I don’t see my name among them,” ““Come, come,” said the lancer, “No joking, my time is short.” ‘Then all Ican say is, your nose isn’t,” Buttons replied, as he ran up stairs, and delivered the letters. In a moment Frank wrote an acknowledgment of the letters, and so much pleased was he that he handed it to the lancer, and therewith a sovereign for his pains. | “Tn lesa than an hour, Buttons,” said he, *‘ we must startfor Florence to deliver those despatches to the king.” Buttons was overjoyed at the prospect of the jour- ney, and, according to Frank’s orders, he put on his old livery as a page—the hat and all—so as to make out his young captain—in the eyes of the world—a greater and aricher man than he really was ; and also to show the Italians that he really could afford servants in his own country, however much he might do without them in time of war. He left Hugh Tracy in command of the company, and, with Buttons as servant, he started off within two hours for Florence. Even in these days, Italy is not furnished with too many railways, and in consequence Frank and Buttons were obliged to make most of their way by means of a coach and four, as best they could. Wherever they went, however, by some strange cir- cumstance which Captain Frank could not under- stand, the people turned out to welcome him ; and when they stopped to change horses at a village, all the inhabitants shouted and cheered like mad- men, This cordial reception on the route astonished Frank; very much, for he could not conceive how any one had found out the object of his journey, Master Buttons, however, might have been able to inform him, for, perched on the roof of the coach, he amused himself with dancing, and singing, and playing wild, discordant solos on a brass trumpet he had captured from some stray Austrian during the assault, All Frank’s attempts to keep Buttons quiet on the road were useless, He had pledged Frank’s health so often during the day—had drunk so many toasts to the Boy Sol- diers—so many to Garibaldi, and so many to him- self on the route, that when, in the evening, the coach rolled into Modena and stopped at the prin- cipal hotel, Master Buttons was obliged to be put to bed. It was then, to his great surprise, that Captain Frank found out the cause of so much rejoicing on the road, for Master Buttons had placed at the back of the coach a large placard, which, in immense letters, caught the eye of the astonished Italians,— Terrific and Bloody News|! Capture of an Austrian Fortress | 5,000 Prisoners ! 100 Cannon captured |” When Frank had somewhat refreshed himself, he took a walk through.some of the principal streets ; and on returning to his hotel was astonished to see hung up in the reading room an immense poster, round which a large number of persons were gathered reading. Frank walked up to it, and almost laughed right out as he read,— “The Battle of Crema ! Bloody Details ! Capture of an Austrian Fortress ! Great deeds of Valor! Hundreds of Prisoners! and Scores of cannon captured ! With a full aceount, and all particulars, By Captain Buttons, of the English Boy Volunteers.” Leaving those around to puzzle themselves as much as they liked, as to who Captain Buttons might be, Frank took a waiter on one side, and asked, ‘What is the meaning of that placard over the fire-place? where did it come from ?” ‘‘ Most important news, sir, to appear exclusively in the ‘Modena Post’, to-morrow morning ; the young captain has just arrived.” “Who, pray? What gentleman?” ‘‘Captain Buttons, sir; large bed-room, blue damask, supper for two, six dozen oysters, cham- pagne, and so forth, sir.” Frank laughed right out as he said, “JT am an Englishraan also, and a volunteer, I should much like to make the acquaintance of this Captain Buttons ; show me to his room.” The waiter bowed. ‘‘ Follow me, sir, if you please ; this way. What name shall I say, sir?” ‘You need not announce me, I am a fellow countryman of his. Show me his room.” “T beg pardon, sir,’ said the waiter, ‘‘the re- porter of the ‘ Modena Post’ is deeply engaged with him, and the captain has given positive orders not to be disturbed by any one.” Frank smiled. _“ Leave the matter to me,” he said, at the same time placing a gold coin in the servant’s hand. Frank opened the door. His entrance was unseen, on account of a large screen which stood before the door. Seated in a large arm-chair, with his heels cocked on the table, was Master Buttons, dressed in new regimentals Frank had bought on the road, in order to present a favourable appearance before the king. Buttons had a cigar in his mouth ; lots of oyster shells were scattered up and down the room. Champagne bottles had been broken off at the neck ; and, with Frank’s sword by his side, Master Buttons looked a strange compound of fun and sleepiness, Opposite to him, sat a round-bellied, pock-marked old gentleman, pen in hand, who seemed very much vexed that the ‘‘captain” would not go on with his interesting narration instead of drinking and smoking, ‘“You must remember, captain, time is pressing, the placards are out, and it’s now nearly twelve © o’clock ; unless we make haste, we shall not be able to have the account in the morning edition, so let us proceed once more. You were at the great ditch, I think, before the fortress.”’ ‘“‘ Hang me, if I know, or care, where I was,” said Buttons, hiccupping. ‘Just ring that bell; them GComicbook