Page:History of Hardy, the soldier.pdf/5

 the best manner, and your father's assistance will assuredly not be wanting, if it can be properly bestowed.”

After dinner, the young people obtained permission from their parents to bring Hardy into the parlour. They both of them ran into the kitchen to carry the invitation: there they found the two aged friends talking of old times and acquaintances, while the plough-boys and maid-servants were listening eagerly to their conversation. It was difficult to part them, and Hardy was obliged to promise that he would spend the evening at Isaac's cottage before he was permitted to go.

When Hardy was seated, Edward placed his chair on one side, and Amelia on the other, and they immediately began to ask him a great number of curious questions on a variety of subjects: what countries he had visited?—what battles he had fought:—what victories were obtained?-and what wounds he had received? Hardy answered their inquiries in so interesting a manner that he gained their affections, and soon became their favourite. Edward promised that he would save part of his pocket-money for Hardy, and would make him welcome to some of the fruit from his own little garden. Amelia said she would make him a new shirt, and knit him a warm pair of stocking against the winter. Mr. Benson having remained a silent spectator for some time, at length requested his children to be quiet; and desired Hardy to give an account of himself from the time he left his native village to the present period.

Hardy, in compliance with the request of Mr. Benson, commenced his narrative, as follows:—“ Your honour recollects the time when allured and deceived by some idle and vicious companions, I enlisted as a soldier, and thus forsook the service of your respected father, whose kindness I shall never cease to remember. My youthful imagination was full of the pleasures and honours which I expected to receive in a short time, and I never thought of any dangers or hardships which I might experience. How often do the young indulge these foolish and deceitful hopes! At first, I was marched about to different places in England; I soon found my expectations false, and earnestly wished that I could leave my musket and return to the plough; but this was impossible. I quickly forgot the pious instructions which I received from your excellent father, and though in the beginning I was shocked at the profaneness and depravity of any comrades, yet, being accustomed to behold it, I soon learned to imitate their evil examples.

“In a few years our regiment received orders to embark for foreign service. I felt some degree of sorrow at quitting my native country and shed a tear or two as we lost sight of that land which we never expected to revisit. However, those feelings were soon lost amidst the bustle, the gaiety, and the laughter of sinful companions. Though