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Article THE GUIDE. ← Page 6 of 8 →
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
The Guide.
them was a youth of fourteen , whose expressive physiognomy instinctively arrested my attention , and excited my sympathy . His head was bound up in a handkerchief saturated with blood ; but not even the anguish of what must evidently have been a painful wound had power to quench the light of his dark proud eye . As I approached him he rose upon his elbow , and said , almost in a tone of command , and in excellent French , 'My officer , give me a draught of some kind ; I am perishing with thirst . '
" The imperious tone of the lad , who wore the uniform of a private in the grenadiers , at once amused and astonished me . I gave him some water out of my own canteen , and placed him under the care of the surgeon , AA-IIO discovered that he had received seven or eight sabre-wounds upon the head , but assured me that none of them were dangerous .
"As the operator shaved the edges of the different cuts , he said to the young soldier ; ' I must give you a good deal of pain , my friend ; but have patience a little longer , and I shall soon haA'e finished . '
'' Go on , sir ; Avas the calm reply ; ' I knoAv how to suffer ; ancl , would to Gocl , that the wounds upon which you are employed were all that I am called upon to bear . ' "' flow ! ' exclaimed the surgeon , ' are you also wounded elseivhere ?' "' No , sir , not as you understand it ; ' said the stripling : ' my
hurts are beyond human skill ; and all I regret to-day is that they do not kill . ' " ' You must be indeed unhappy to talk thus at your years ;' I remarked soothingly ; ' there ; my friend has , as I perceive , completed his task , so come with me and endeaA'our to obtain a little rest ; to-morrow I shall trust to see you better . ' He
complied Ai'ith a bow so graceful , that it AA ' OUIC ! have clone no discredit to a courtier ; and I led him to my bivouac , where I left him to seek such repose as the pain of his wounds would permit . " On the folloiving morning I awaited with impatience the moment when I might reneiv my acquaintance Avith the poor boy , whose extreme youth and gallant bearing had greatly
interested my feelings ; and while he was sharing my breakfast , I urged him to tell me by what extraordinary chance he hacl been placed in his present situation , assuring him , at the same time , that I would befriend him by every means in my power . '" I am very grateful for your kindness , captain ; ' he said , in a voice hoarse with emotion ; ' but I am so wretched as to be beyond the reach of consolation ! I am alone in the world . Yesterday my two brothers ivere killed beside me , a fsw hours VOL . I . 2 x
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
The Guide.
them was a youth of fourteen , whose expressive physiognomy instinctively arrested my attention , and excited my sympathy . His head was bound up in a handkerchief saturated with blood ; but not even the anguish of what must evidently have been a painful wound had power to quench the light of his dark proud eye . As I approached him he rose upon his elbow , and said , almost in a tone of command , and in excellent French , 'My officer , give me a draught of some kind ; I am perishing with thirst . '
" The imperious tone of the lad , who wore the uniform of a private in the grenadiers , at once amused and astonished me . I gave him some water out of my own canteen , and placed him under the care of the surgeon , AA-IIO discovered that he had received seven or eight sabre-wounds upon the head , but assured me that none of them were dangerous .
"As the operator shaved the edges of the different cuts , he said to the young soldier ; ' I must give you a good deal of pain , my friend ; but have patience a little longer , and I shall soon haA'e finished . '
'' Go on , sir ; Avas the calm reply ; ' I knoAv how to suffer ; ancl , would to Gocl , that the wounds upon which you are employed were all that I am called upon to bear . ' "' flow ! ' exclaimed the surgeon , ' are you also wounded elseivhere ?' "' No , sir , not as you understand it ; ' said the stripling : ' my
hurts are beyond human skill ; and all I regret to-day is that they do not kill . ' " ' You must be indeed unhappy to talk thus at your years ;' I remarked soothingly ; ' there ; my friend has , as I perceive , completed his task , so come with me and endeaA'our to obtain a little rest ; to-morrow I shall trust to see you better . ' He
complied Ai'ith a bow so graceful , that it AA ' OUIC ! have clone no discredit to a courtier ; and I led him to my bivouac , where I left him to seek such repose as the pain of his wounds would permit . " On the folloiving morning I awaited with impatience the moment when I might reneiv my acquaintance Avith the poor boy , whose extreme youth and gallant bearing had greatly
interested my feelings ; and while he was sharing my breakfast , I urged him to tell me by what extraordinary chance he hacl been placed in his present situation , assuring him , at the same time , that I would befriend him by every means in my power . '" I am very grateful for your kindness , captain ; ' he said , in a voice hoarse with emotion ; ' but I am so wretched as to be beyond the reach of consolation ! I am alone in the world . Yesterday my two brothers ivere killed beside me , a fsw hours VOL . I . 2 x