For the tailor's wife hadn't no children you see, my
Lady, and was wonderful took up with my boy; and Jan he made her a
beautiful pair of shoes in return, I mind. And it was a saying that
our ridgment had the smallest drummer in the army, and the best. Look
'ee, I've a kept the very coat."
And she pulled the outer clothes off the sick man's chest, and showed
the little coat which Dick had worn, tied by the sleeves about his
neck. He moved slightly and his mother poured a few drops of wine
between his lips; but he made no further sign of revival, and she went
on with her story.
"Well, it was in the year seven, I mind well, that the other battalion
of the ridgment was sent to the war in Denmark and then on to
Portingale. I didn't like that, for it seemed that the war was coming
nigh home to us, and our good luck had lasted long; and I couldn't
never get the old Betsy's words out of my head, that I must cross the
sea. And at last in the autumn of the next year, the year eight that
was, the day come. Our battalion was ordered to find men to fill up
the place of those that was dead in the other battalion, and Jan was
a-chosen for one. There was only six women to every company allowed to
go with them, and they was drawed by lot. Ah, well I mind the drawing
of they lots. It was pity to see the poor wives a-screeching and
crying, as one after another was told that she must bide home.
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