Or is your interest in the fight literary? and do you see in a pause of the conflict Major O'Dowd sitting on the carcass of Pyramus refreshing4 himself from that case-bottle of sound brandy? George Osborne lying yonder, all his fopperies ended, with a bullet through his heart? Rawdon Crawley riding stolidly5 behind General Tufto along the front of the shattered regiment6 where Captain Dobbin stands heartsick for poor Emily?
Or maybe the struggle arranges itself in your vision around one figure not named in history or fiction,—that of hour grandfather, or his father, or some old dead soldier of the great wars whose blood you exult7 to inherit, or some grim veteran whom you saw tottering8 to the rollcall beyond when Queen Victoria was young and you were a little boy.
For me the shadows of the battle are so grouped round old John Locke that the historians, story-tellers, and painters may never quite persuade me that he was not the centre and real hero of the action. The French cuirassiers in my thought-pictures charge again and again vainly against old John; he it is who breaks the New Guard; upon the ground that he defends the Emperor's eyes are fixed9 all day long. It is John who occasionally glances at the sky with wonder if Blucher has failed them. Upon Shaw the Lifeguardsman, and John, the Duke plainly most relies, and the words that Wellington actually speaks when the time comes for advance are, "Up, John, and at them!"
How fate drifted the old veteran of Waterloo into our little Canadian Lake Erie village I never knew. Drifted him? No; he ever marched as if under the orders of his commander. Tall, thin, white-haired, close-shaven, and always in knee-breeches and long stockings, his was an antique and martial10 figure. "Fresh white-fish" was his cry, which he delivered as if calling all the village to fall in for drill.
So impressive was his demeanor11 that he dignified12 his occupation. For years after he disappeared, the peddling13 of white-fish by horse and cart was regarded in that district as peculiarly respectable. It was a glorious trade when old John Locke held the steelyards and served out the glittering fish with an air of distributing ammunition14 for a long day's combat.
I believe I noticed, on the first day I saw him, how he tapped his left breast with a proud gesture when he had done with a lot of customers and was about to march again at the head of his horse. That restored him from trade to his soldiership—he had saluted15 his Waterloo medal! There beneath his threadbare old blue coat it lay, always felt by the heart of the hero.
"Why doesn't he wear it outside?" I once asked.
"He used to," said my father; "till Hiram Beaman, the druggist, asked him what he'd 'take for the bit of pewter.'"
"What did old John say, sir?"
"'Take for the bit of pewter!' said he, looking hard at Beaman with scorn. 'I've took better men's lives nor ever yours was for to get it, and I'd sell my own for it as quick as ever I offered it before.'
"'More fool you,' said Beaman.
"'You're nowt,' said old John, very calm and cold, 'you're nowt but walking dirt.' From that day forth17 he would never sell Beaman a fish; he wouldn't touch his money."
It must have been late in 1854 or early in 1855 that I first saw the famous medal. Going home from school on a bright winter afternoon, I met old John walking very erect18, without his usual fish-supply. A dull round white spot was clasped on the left breast of his coat.
"Mr. Locke," said the small boy, staring with admiration19, "is that your glorious Waterloo medal?"
"You're a good little lad!" He stooped to let me see the noble pewter. "War's declared against Rooshia, and now it's right to show it. The old regiment's sailed, and my only son is with the colors."
Then he took me by the hand and led me into the village store, where the lawyer read aloud the news from the paper that the veteran gave him. In those days there was no railway within fifty miles of us. It had chanced that some fisherman brought old John a later paper than any previously20 received in the village.
"Ay, but the Duke is gone," said he, shaking his white head, "and it's curious to be fighting on the same side with another Boney."
All that winter and the next, all the long summer between, old John displayed his medal. When the report of Alma came, his remarks on the French failure to get into the fight were severe. "What was they ever, at best, without Boney?" he would inquire. But a letter from his son after Inkermann changed all that.
"Half of us was killed, and the rest of us clean tired with fighting," wrote Corporal Locke. "What with a bullet through the flesh of my right leg, and the fatigue21 of using the bayonet so long, I was like to drop. The Russians was coming on again as if there was no end to them, when strange drums came sounding in the mist behind us. With that we closed up and faced half-round, thinking they had outflanked us and the day was gone, so there was nothing more to do but make out to die hard, like the sons of Waterloo men. You would have been pleased to see the looks of what was left of the old regiment, father. Then all of a sudden a French column came up the rise out of the mist, screaming, 'Vive l'Empereur!' their drums beating the charge. We gave them room, for we were too dead tired to go first. On they went like mad at the Russians, so that was the end of a hard morning's work. I was down,—fainted with loss of blood,—but I will soon be fit for duty again. When I came to myself there was a Frenchman pouring brandy down my throat, and talking in his gibberish as kind as any Christian22. Never a word will I say agin them red-legged French again."
"Show me the man that would!" growled23 old John. "It was never in them French to act cowardly. Didn't they beat all the world, and even stand up many's the day agen ourselves and the Duke? They didn't beat,—it wouldn't be in reason,—but they tried brave enough, and what more'd you ask of mortal men?"
With the ending of the Crimean War our village was illuminated24. Rows of tallow candles in every window, fireworks in a vacant field, and a torchlight procession! Old John marched at its head in full regimentals, straight as a ramrod, the hero of the night. His son had been promoted for bravery on the field. After John came a dozen gray militiamen of Queenston Heights, Lundy's Lane, and Chippewa; next some forty volunteers of '37. And we boys of the U. E. Loyalist settlement cheered and cheered, thrilled with an intense vague knowledge that the old army of Wellington kept ghostly step with John, while aerial trumpets25 and drums pealed26 and beat with rejoicing at the fresh glory of the race and the union of English-speaking men unconsciously celebrated27 and symbolized28 by the little rustic29 parade.
OLD JOHN MARCHED IN FULL REGIMENTALS
OLD JOHN MARCHED IN FULL REGIMENTALS
After that the old man again wore his medal concealed30. The Chinese War of 1857 was too contemptible31 to celebrate by displaying his badge of Waterloo.
Then came the dreadful tale of the Sepoy mutiny—Meerut, Delhi, Cawnpore! After the tale of Nana Sahib's massacre32 of women and children was read to old John he never smiled, I think. Week after week, month after month, as hideous33 tidings poured steadily34 in, his face became more haggard, gray, and dreadful. The feeling that he was too old for use seemed to shame him. He no longer carried his head high, as of yore. That his son was not marching behind Havelock with the avenging35 army seemed to cut our veteran sorely. Sergeant36 Locke had sailed with the old regiment to join Outram in Persia before the Sepoys broke loose. It was at this time that old John was first heard to say, "I'm 'feared something's gone wrong with my heart."
Months went by before we learned that the troops for Persia had been stopped on their way and thrown into India against the mutineers. At that news old John marched into the village with a prouder air than he had worn for many a day. His medal was again on his breast.
It was but the next month, I think, that the village lawyer stood reading aloud the account of the capture of a great Sepoy fort. The veteran entered the post-office, and all made way for him. The reading went on:—
"The blowing open of the Northern Gate was the grandest personal exploit of the attack. It was performed by native sappers, covered by the fire of two regiments37, and headed by Lieutenants38 Holder40 and Dacre, Sergeants41 Green, Carmody, Macpherson, and Locke."
The lawyer paused. Every eye turned to the face of the old Waterloo soldier. He straightened up to keener attention, threw out his chest, and tapped the glorious medal in salute16 of the names of the brave.
"God be praised, my son was there!" he said. "Read on."
"Sergeant Carmody, while laying the powder, was killed, and the native havildar wounded. The powder having been laid, the advance party slipped down into the ditch to allow the firing party, under Lieutenant39 Dacre, to do its duty. While trying to fire the charge he was shot through one arm and leg. He sank, but handed the match to Sergeant Macpherson, who was at once shot dead. Sergeant Locke, already wounded severely42 in the shoulder, then seized the match, and succeeded in firing the train. He fell at that moment, literally43 riddled44 with bullets."
"Read on," said old John, in a deeper voice. All forbore to look twice upon his face.
"Others of the party were falling, when the gate was blown to fragments, and the waiting regiments of infantry45, under Colonel Campbell, rushed into the breach46."
There was a long silence in the post-office, till old John spoke47 once more.
"The Lord God be thanked for all his dealings with us! My son, Sergeant Locke, died well for England, Queen, and Duty."
Nervously48 fingering the treasure on his breast, the old soldier wheeled about, and marched proudly straight down the middle of the village street to his lonely cabin.
The villagers never saw him in life again. Next day he did not appear. All refrained from intruding49 on his mourning. But in the evening, when the Anglican minister heard of his parishioner's loss, he walked to old John's home.
There, stretched upon his straw bed, he lay in his antique regimentals, stiffer than At Attention, all his medals fastened below that of Waterloo above his quiet heart. His right hand lay on an open Bible, and his face wore an expression as of looking for ever and ever upon Sergeant Locke and the Great Commander who takes back unto Him the heroes He fashions to sweeten the world.
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1
relics
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| [pl.］n.遗物，遗迹，遗产；遗体，尸骸 | |
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mangled
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| vt.乱砍（mangle的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
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victorious
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| adj.胜利的，得胜的 | |
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refreshing
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| adj.使精神振作的，使人清爽的，使人喜欢的 | |
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stolidly
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| adv.迟钝地，神经麻木地 | |
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regiment
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| n.团，多数，管理；v.组织，编成团，统制 | |
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exult
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| v.狂喜，欢腾；欢欣鼓舞 | |
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tottering
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| adj.蹒跚的，动摇的v.走得或动得不稳( totter的现在分词 )；踉跄；蹒跚；摇摇欲坠 | |
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9
fixed
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| adj.固定的，不变的，准备好的；(计算机)固定的 | |
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10
martial
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| adj.战争的，军事的，尚武的，威武的 | |
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demeanor
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| n.行为；风度 | |
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dignified
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| a.可敬的，高贵的 | |
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peddling
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| 忙于琐事的，无关紧要的 | |
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ammunition
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| n.军火，弹药 | |
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saluted
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| v.欢迎，致敬( salute的过去式和过去分词 )；赞扬，赞颂 | |
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salute
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| vi.行礼，致意，问候，放礼炮；vt.向…致意，迎接，赞扬；n.招呼，敬礼，礼炮 | |
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forth
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| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
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erect
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| n./v.树立，建立，使竖立；adj.直立的，垂直的 | |
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admiration
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| n.钦佩，赞美，羡慕 | |
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previously
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| adv.以前，先前（地） | |
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fatigue
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| n.疲劳，劳累 | |
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Christian
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| adj.基督教徒的；n.基督教徒 | |
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23
growled
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| v.（动物）发狺狺声， （雷）作隆隆声( growl的过去式和过去分词 )；低声咆哮着说 | |
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24
illuminated
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| adj.被照明的；受启迪的 | |
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25
trumpets
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| 喇叭( trumpet的名词复数 )； 小号； 喇叭形物； （尤指）绽开的水仙花 | |
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26
pealed
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| v.（使）（钟等）鸣响，（雷等）发出隆隆声( peal的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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27
celebrated
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| adj.有名的，声誉卓著的 | |
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28
symbolized
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| v.象征，作为…的象征( symbolize的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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29
rustic
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| adj.乡村的，有乡村特色的；n.乡下人，乡巴佬 | |
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30
concealed
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| a.隐藏的，隐蔽的 | |
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31
contemptible
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| adj.可鄙的，可轻视的，卑劣的 | |
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32
massacre
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| n.残杀，大屠杀；v.残杀，集体屠杀 | |
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33
hideous
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| adj.丑陋的，可憎的，可怕的，恐怖的 | |
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34
steadily
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| adv.稳定地；不变地；持续地 | |
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35
avenging
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| adj.报仇的，复仇的v.为…复仇，报…之仇( avenge的现在分词 )；为…报复 | |
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sergeant
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| n.警官，中士 | |
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regiments
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| （军队的）团( regiment的名词复数 )； 大量的人或物 | |
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38
lieutenants
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| n.陆军中尉( lieutenant的名词复数 )；副职官员；空军；仅低于…官阶的官员 | |
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lieutenant
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| n.陆军中尉，海军上尉；代理官员，副职官员 | |
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40
holder
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| n.持有者，占有者；(台，架等)支持物 | |
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41
sergeants
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| 警官( sergeant的名词复数 )； （美国警察）警佐； （英国警察）巡佐； 陆军（或空军）中士 | |
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42
severely
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| adv.严格地；严厉地；非常恶劣地 | |
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43
literally
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| adv.照字面意义，逐字地；确实 | |
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44
riddled
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| adj.布满的；充斥的；泛滥的v.解谜，出谜题(riddle的过去分词形式) | |
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45
infantry
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| n.[总称]步兵(部队) | |
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46
breach
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| n.违反，不履行；破裂；vt.冲破，攻破 | |
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47
spoke
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| n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说 | |
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48
nervously
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| adv.神情激动地，不安地 | |
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49
intruding
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| v.侵入，侵扰，打扰( intrude的现在分词)；把…强加于 | |
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