1117

RISTURNING FROM PICKKT. (SketehU by Col. Coledlle. s

note-book upon a plank laid across a couple of barrels, under a scorching sun.

Dr. Russcllput alittle brasseagle inmy hand.

“ That 1s from the shako of a Russian soldier,” he said. “T never saw such callantry. The fellow rushed out of the column that came down on the Light Division, and which had thrown the Scots Iusiliers into confusion, and made straight for the standard ol the Guards. He clutched the staff -swords and bayvonets cut and pierced him, but he fought on: and Lindsay and others had to fight for it too. At last he dropped, and 1 brought this Dbrass cagle, which Norcott’s sergeant cave me, as a memento of one of the most persistent examples of hopeless bravery I ever witnessed.”

When peace was declared he o returmed to England in the spring of 1856, He reached home late at night, and his wife led him quictly upstairs to a bedroom. She opened the door, and there stood his Tietle ones in their night-gowns at the foot of the hed, singing : Ol Willie, we have miss'd vou, Welcome! welcome home '

“T had never heard the song hefore,” said Dr. Russell, “*and I thought 1t was some little ditty of their mother's teaching for my welcome. Tagine my disgust next morning, when sitting at breakfast, to hear a band of [Sthiopian mclodists outside strike up-—*Oh'.

[ARS]

Willie, we have miss’'d you !

STRANLD

MAGAZINI.

Now, Dr. Russell’s bap- tismal appel- latiton is William,

e had not long been home cre he was asked to oo out again to Russia to deseribe the Coronation of the Crzar, the account of which he con- stders his best bit of writing.

“Whilst at onc of the receptions at Moscow,” hc sad, “1 met A Russian officer, who spoke exeel- lent Ionglish, who had been at Balaclava, and was much interested in the details of the day. Inthe course of conversation he said:—

T laid the first gun of my battery azainst a troop of your artillery so true, that when the shell burst, it blew the officer who was riding in front into pieces.’

“Pardon me ! You are mistaken,” T said. ‘Permit me to tell you that Captain Maudec, who was the officer who rode in front of that troop, 15 now standing close behind you ! Major, now General, Maude was mdeed badly wounded by that shell; but he is now alive and well, T hope, and at the head of the Queen's stable.

“ Returning home again, Thackeray and others suggested that 1 should lecture on the war. T did so, with Willert Beale as my impresario. 1 used to rchearse my lecture

hefore o select audience — Mark T.emon, Shirley Brooks, John T.eech, Thackeray, Delane, Douglas Jerrold, and half the

Garrick Club, who used to introduce, * Hear ! hear! cheers and laughter’ at appropriate places. At last the eventful night of the Jébwt s lecturer came. The scence was Willis's Rooms. T peeped mnto the vast room. Great Heavens ! The hall was filled with Crimean officers. 1 recogmsed Tord lucan, Lord Rokeby, Airey, cte. cte., all orimly expectant in front, and many famihar faces behind. “oTcan’t go oon,’ 1 osaid.