Page:Memorials of Capt. Hedley Vicars, Ninety-seventh Regiment by Marsh, Catherine, 1818-1912.djvu/19

Rh detained in the Mauritius by military duty. He came home to rejoice the hearts of his family in the year 1835 and died four years afterwards, in the prime of manhood, at Mullingar, West Meath, where he held a military appointment. He was honoured and beloved by the whole neigbourhood.

High-spirited, and fearless for himself, for his sisters Hedley was ever thoughtful, and treated them with invariable gentleness. The tenderness of his boyish years, for all who were under the power of his superior strength, was the germ of that constant consideration and goodness exercised in after-life towards those who were under his command, which drew forth from them an affection meet to illustrate the words, "Peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die."

When the boy was twelve years old his father's dying hand was laid upon his head, with the earnest prayer "that he might be a good soldier of Jesus Christ, and so fight manfully under his banner as to glorify his holy name."

It might almost seem that faith had given to the departing Christian, as to the aged Jacob, a voice of prophecy. Knows he not now, and will he not yet more perfectly know, in a day for which a groaning creation looketh, how fully a faithful God granted to him this — his last prayer?

From this time Hedley's love for his mother gradually deepened into that peculiar form of protecting tenderness which seems the prerogative of a widow's son, and there grew up with his growth an almost feminine gentleness and a sensitive regard for the feelings of others, which, combined with singular strength and stedfastness of character, rendered the friendship of his matured manhood so precious to those who had the privilege of enjoying it.

To study he had always shown a marked and positive aversion, and devoted his time to anything ra-