tion, I bent my way to
the head inn, where all the officers were assembled. I inquired for the
colonel, and was at last shown into a room where he was sitting, with
other officers, at breakfast. I strutted up to him with my hat in my
hand, and made him a most obsequious bow, with my hand and foot at the
same time. I then stood straight, as if I had swallowed a sergeant's
pike; when the colonel laughingly said, "Well, my fine little rustic,
what's your pleasure?" I said, making another bow, and scraping the
carpet with my nailed high-lows, "Soldiering, your honour." At this, the
whole of the officers burst into a roar of laughter, in which the
colonel most heartily joined. I thought it was the fashion in the army,
so I joined them, which only served to increase their mirth; and many of
them were obliged to hold their sides from excess of laughter. I soon
found that all this merriment was at my expense; at which I began to
evince some slight displeasure, and was just about to express it in
words, when the colonel said, in the most affectionate manner, "My dear
little child, you had better return to your fond mother's lap." Here I
could not help piping, and I replied, "Sir, my mother is dead." "Could I
even take you," continued the colonel, "I should imagine that I was
robbing some fond parent of its child; besides, we are proceeding on
foreign service, against the enemy."

This news only served to increase my anxiety to go, and I again
entreated him to look with compassion upon an orphan. I saw him turn
from me, and wipe away a falling tear; and then, addressing me with the
affection of a parent, he said, "My dear little fellow, if I was going
to remain in England, I would take you; but under the present
circumstances, I cannot." Here I again began to cry, and I told him that
I was sixteen miles from home, and had not got a piece of bread to put
in my mouth. Upon this, the whole of the officers vociferated, "Waiter!
waiter! waiter!" The waiter was speedily in attendance, when I was
ordered breakfast by twenty persons at the same time. I was still
resolved not to give up my point; but the colonel again told me, it
would be impossible for him to take me, but assured me that I should be
taken care of, and desired me to go downstairs and get my breakfast. I
did so, and, in passing round the table for the purpose of retiring,
some gave me a shilling, some sixpence, so that I had more money than I
had ever before possessed in m