The Soldier's Wife — page 184: what you’re looking at

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

THE SOLDIERS WIFE. reai object is to excite terror and alarm, and peraaps to pillage and plunder. Now, my men, it may be that you will find yourselves called upon to act; and if so, I am very certain you will do your duty. You will be kept in barracks for the rest of this day; and after din- ner you will all take and rougli-sharpen the points of your bayonets. The non-commission- ed officers will rough-sharpen their swords; and I tell you, my men, that if to-morrow you do have to use your weapons, you are not to be overnice in the matter. I hope none of you are imbued with those revolutionary and detestable doctrines which vile demagogues are so assiduously disseminating; but if any one of you should be heard giving utterance to such sedition. we will see if the cat-o’-nine-tails will not thrash it out.” Thus ended the Colonel’s speech: the regi- ment retired to its quarters; and alter dinner the process of rough-sharpening the bayonets commenced. The object was that those mur- derous weapons should inflict jagged wounds, which from their dreadful ghastliness would be all the more difficult to cure. A number of grindstones were provided for the purpose: and thus were the soldiers, after having attended church in the morning to near the doctrines of Christianity preached, compelled to make these hideous preparations for the massacre of their fellow-countrymen. It became rumored through the regiment that the three troops of cavalry which had arrived on the same day, had re- ceived similar orders: namely, to rough-sharpen their swords; and therefore it appeared as if something very serious were intended for the occasion of the meeting of the working classes. Now, we have previously stated that democra- tic Opinions were very rife in Lonsdale’s regi- ment, and that the most liberal of the weekly newspapers then in existence was extensively read and circulated amongst the soldiers. They therefore did experience considerable sympathy with the objects of the forthcoming meeting; and to those objects they wished all possible success. Consequently, it was with the most painful feelings that the soldiers pursued the horrible work of sharpening their bayonets. Gladly—most gladly, would they have disobey- ed the mandate: but Sergeant-Major Langley went round to assure himself that the work was done fully and effectually. The Colonel himself, and the generality of the officers like- wise, gave their supervision. The older pri- vates shook their heads gloomily and wore seri- ous countenances; the younger ones whisper- ed amongst themselves, and testified their ab- horrence of the fearful proceeding as much as they dared. But none felt more bitterly on the subject than Frederick Lonsdale. His countenance was ashy pale; and there was a Btrange light glimmering in his eyes. He long- ed to break out into open rebellion against a mandate which he considered to be repugnant to human nature and hateful in the sight of heaven. He felt that when he had enlisted as a soldier, it was in the belief that it was for the purpose of performing manly duties, and not of domg a coward’s work: and he looked upon 168 the order which “.ad been issued, as one ealene- lated to degrade and dishonor the British sol: dier down to the level of a mere hireling cut- throat. In such a state of mind, it cannot be wondered if Lonsdale held back when his turn came to approach the grindstone. At that mo- ment his very hfe hung by a thread. Had ha thrown down his arms and refused to sharpen his bayonet, the offence would have been muti- ny; and considering his past punishments, the penalty would have been death. Then wkat would become of his wife and child? All these considerations swept through his mind in a moment, for he was thoroughly sober on the occasion ;—and exerting an almost superhuman effort over his feelings, he approached the grind- stone. At that instant Sergeant Langley’s voice thundered in his ears. ‘“Now then, you fellow, what are you hesi- tating about? I knew deuced well that you were sure to hang back. A scoundrel like you is enough to corrupt the whole regiment. I havw’t forgot what I heard about you at Oak- leigh at the time you enlisted—how you were notorious for the seditious doctrines you propa- gated. Come, sir, work away at the grind- stone; and if it’s necessary for the sake of our blessed laws and glorious constitution to make an attack upon those vagabonds and rapscal- lions who are to meet to-morrow, I shall keep a sharp eye upon you. Go on, you scoundrel —eorind away—and take care you do your duty!” | And Lonsdale did grind away, because he was compelled to do so. The dissipated career which he had ted for some time past, had not stifled all generous feelings in his soul. Though rendered somewhat callous and indifferent—too callous and too indifferent—towards his excel- lent wife and beautiful child, yet the edge of his political feeling was by no means blunted; indeed, it had lost nove of its keenness; and hence the strength of his emotions on the pre- sent occasion. When he had done sharpening his bayonet, he hurried off to the canteen and drank deeply to drown the bitterness of his feelings. On the following morning the working classes of Middleton were seen hurrying to the spot appointed for the meeting—a large open space just outside the town. Numbers from all the adjacent villages and hamlets had lkewise been pouring in to the same focus from an ear- ly hour in the morning; and remoter places— even large towns—within a circuit of twenty miles, had contributed to swell the multitude assembling on the present occasion. Thus, by the time the proceedings commenced, there were at least ten thousand: persons gathered to- gether at the appointed place: but all were in- spired with the same peaceable view, yet feel- ing that they had a duty to perform, and re- solving to accomplish it boldly and manfully. There was not a single individual in that im- mense assemblage who had come provided with any offensive weapon; the idea of a physical force demonstration was altogether out of the question; and the leaders of the working classes had ado .ed every possible precaution to avoid <S CORMIE AOC (E(o)